The Poisoning of Those Close to Mary Britland but Was She Responsible?
The Poisoning of Those Close to Mary Britland but Was She Responsible?
Manchesters first woman hung.
Mary Britland is famous for being the first woman executed by hanging at Strangeways Prison in Manchester. James Berry executed her on 9th August 1886; as she went to the gallows, she still proclaimed her innocence.
The evidence against her was substantial, although circumstantial. However, the question remains, was Britland a victim of a miscarriage of justice or was she a killer who poisoned her victims to be with the love of her life?
Early Life
Britland was born in Bolton in 1848. She was the second eldest daughter of Jonathan and Hannah Hague. The family were comfortable for the times. In her late teens, she married Thomas Britland, who was five years her senior.
She gave birth to two daughters, Susannah and Elizabeth; both girls grew to adulthood. Both Britland and her daughter Elizabeth took a job working at Fishers Mill in Turner Lane.
They were not the only family members employed, Thomas worked as a barman and drove a cart, and Susannah, at eighteen, was in service in Oldham. Nevertheless, the family were happy, especially when they moved home to 92 Turner Lane in 1885.
Although delighted with their new home, it was invested with mice, so Britland went to get some poison to eradicate this problem. However, she might have used the poison to eradicate more than a mouse problem.
Death in the family
The first person to fall ill in the house was nineteen-year-old Elizabeth. She became ill with severe stomach cramps on 8th March 1886; despite being nursed by her mother, she died two days later in agony. Like all members of her family, there was a small life insurance policy to pay for a simple funeral.
No inquest was held into Elizabeth's death; the family doctor Thompson signed her death certificate, and Britland collected the £10 death insurance.
On 30th April 1886, Thomas started to feel unwell; it is suggested that this was when his wife started poisoning him. He died three days later. His death strangely was put down as epilepsy. Again Britland collected the £20 life insurance.
Mary Dixon
Britland appeared to be distraught by the deaths in her family and turned to her next-door neighbour for support, Mary Dixon. Mary had helped Britland care for Thomas when he became ill, and the pair had become close.
Mary took Britland in after Thoma's death and comforted her, inviting her to spend time with her family and regularly cooking for the widow. Unfortunately, Mary became ill on 13th May, shortly after eating supper with Britland.
Dr Thompson was called, and despite his best efforts, she died the following day, her death being noted as abdominal spasms.
Sarah Lloyd
Living in the same area as Britland was Mrs Sarah Lloyd. Sarah had an important job to do, which she took very seriously. It was her job to lay out the dead before burial.
She first noticed something strange when laying Elizabeth out; she noticed her hand was clenched tightly, something she had not seen before.
When she again found herself in services, this time to Mary Dixon, she noticed the same clenched hands. She reported these strange findings.
She was not the only one; John Law, a local cafe owner, stated that Britland had asked him some peculiar questions about poisoning.
Arrest
Law thought it would be in everyone's best interest to inform Thomas Dixon when he got home. At this time, Britland admitted to buying poison. Thomas was genuinely horrified.
As a result of these concerns, the police became suspicious and interviewed Britland. They also asked for the organs of Mary to be tested as they had been preserved.
The tests showed that Mary's organs contained both arsenic and strychnine. Britland was arrested and charged with murder.
Motive
The prosecution felt that they needed to provide a motive for the murders, something that was more certain than just the money she had claimed on their death. They didn't have to wait long.
Britland was accused of having an affair with Thomas Dixon, her younger next-door neighbour. Her daughter Elizabeth had found out and threatened to expose them; this was when she killed her.
With her daughter out of the way, two people stood between her and her love. Her husband was quickly dispatched, which left only Thomas's wife, Mary, who soon became her third victim.
Thomas Dixon was initially charged with the murder of his wife, but the police found no evidence he was aware of the plan and released him without charge.
In a further twist, it is unclear whether Thomas even had an affair with Britland or whether this was in her imagination.
Trial and Punishment
Britland went to trial on 22nd July 1886. The prosecution had also exhumed the bodies of Thomas and Elizabeth and discovered arsenic in their organs. Strychnine may have been used, but it dissolves in the body quicker.
The defence argued that there was no motive for murder, as the affair story could not be substantiated, and Thomas denied it even happened. The judge informed the jury that they did not need a motive to convict, so it was irrelevant.
The jury returned after two hours and said they could not reach a verdict the judge sent them back to deliberate further. The following day they returned with the guilty conviction and sentenced her to death.
She told the court, 'I am quite innocent, I am not guilty at all.' Britland was hanged on 9th August 1886. She was so distressed she needed to be assisted to the trap door.
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