The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-27
One Woman Committing Over Twenty
Murdcrs.

to the consternation produced In the
North OF England by the terrible charge
OF wholesale poisoning which was par
TALLY Investigated ut West Auckland, and
which has, since the committal of the
accused for trial, assumed still more tor
rible Dimensions. AS we stated on Sa-
turday, the woman in custody is now
suspected of having poisoned her mo-
ther, fifteen children, three husbands.
and one lodger. Tie Durham County
police have been able to lay tho follow
ing particulars before the Home Secreta-
ry, with view TO procure an order for
the exhumation of more bodies to be
tested for poison:
Mary Ann Cotton, the prisoner, was
born in 1882, ut Murton Colliery, near
Seaham harbor, and her father, Michael
Robson, was snker ut that place, and
WAS killed about twenty-six years ago.
The prisoner was then about fourteen
years old, and lived at home with her
mother at the above named colliery until
she was sixteen years of age, when she
went to live as under-nurse in the family
OF Mr.. Edward Potter. colliery viewer at
South Hetton. She remained in this
situation about three years, and then she
went home to her mothers house, aud
oOA WV nh 6RpA CAtAOCoulp LO Lu6 OuSluoES
OF q dress-maker. About this time she
became acquainted with William Now
bray, q laborer residing at Murton Col.
liery, but o native OF Peterborough.
They were shortly afterwards married at
st. Andrews Church. Newcastle-on-
Tyne. and left the neighborhood and
went to reside OF Plymouth, and after
wards at various other places in the
South of England, then returning to
South Hetton. after an ABSENCE of i've
years from that part of the country. On
their return the prisoner stated that she
had had four children while away, but
they all died. Mowbray obtained en-
ployment at South Hetton as foreman
at the colliery, and remained there seve-
raj years. On the Oath of June, 1860,
they had child. named Mary Ann, four
years of age. which died. Mr. Broad-
bent. surgeon at South Hetton, says she
died of gastric fover. Shortly after this
Mowbray and the prisoner, with their
children, went to live OF Hendon. He
obtained employment as fireman on O
steam vessel. On the 22d of September,
1864, O son named John Robert William,
about one year old, died; and on the I'd
of May, 1865, a daughter named Mary
Jane died. The two lnst-pamed were at
tended in their illness by Mr.. Gammage,.
surgeon, Sunderland, and he states that
they both died of gastric fever. The de.
ceased, VIM. Mowbray, and his family,
we're all insured in the British and Pru-
Dental Insurance Office, and on the
death Of her husband the prisoner got
G35, and some smaller amounts on the
death of the children.
She then obtained situation at the
old inGrmary at Sunderland, aud re.
mained there about six months, when
she became acquainted with an inmate
named George Ward. He married Lcr,
and they went to reside in Gray street,
Sunderland, where he died on the 2Ist
of October, 1866, aged thirty three years.
Mr.. Gammage attended him, and, al-
though he was an ailing man, he con-
sidered that he dropped off very sud
denly. From the death Of Ward to the
Goth of December, it is said the prisoner
led loose life, but she then obtained q
situation as house, keeper to one James
Robinson. O foreman in O ship. building
yard at Pallion. In June, 1867, he mar.
ried her, and they continued to reside
together ut Pallion. When Robinson
married the prisoner, he was widow
with FIVE children, and the prisoner had
one little girl about nine years of age.
She lived with Robinson until the latter
part of December, 1867, and during TINT
time there died in his house John Ro.
binson. ten months old, January 4. 1867;
James Robinson, six years old, April 7,
1867; Elizabeth Robinson, eight years
old, April 13, 1867; Elizabeth Mowbray,
nine years old, May 2, 1857; Edward
Mowbray, nine years old, May 2, 1867,
and Margaret Robinson, three years old,
December, 1867. Mr.. Gammage at
tended e. Mowbray, and he states she
died of gastric fever. Mr.. Shaw, sur
geon, Deptford, attended the Robnsons,
and he states they died of gastric fever
It is stated above that the prisoner
lived with Robinson until the lattor part
of December, 1S47. About this time,
he had fouud out she had involved him
in about EGO debt, besides pledging his
clothes and disposing of his household
linen and goods. She had also charge
of his bank book and building society
book, and he nlso found that she hud
wasted upward of ESQ, and entered sums
in the building society book which she
never paid in. Robinson's sisters also
beDaD tO talk ohOut tho o,,o,,;o;o,, doo ~,