The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-11-08
A Female Prisoner.
AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF CRIME

An almost incredible story is told in
the Manchester Guardian of October
4th. 1t is in the form of an official re-
port as to the antecedents of the wo-
man Cotton, who is in custody in Dnn-
ham Jail, charged with poisoning. The
report had been forwarded by Police
Henderson to the home
Secretary, to support the application
for an order for further examinations.
1t says:
"Mary Ann Cotton was born in the
year 1882, at Mutton Colliery, near
Sedham Harbor. She became acquaint-
ed with man named William Now
Draw, a laborer residing at Murton Col
liery, but native Of Peterborough.
They were shortly afterward married
at St. Andrews Church, Newcastie-on-
Tyne, and left the neighborhood and
went to reside at Plymouth, and alter
ward at various places in the south of
and then returned to South
Hetton, after an absence of five years
from that part of the country. On
their return the prisoner stated that
she had four children while away, but
they had all died. On the l4th of
June, 1860, they had child that died,
named Mary Ann, four years OF age
Mr. Broadbent, surgeon at South Het-
ton, says she died of gastric fever.
Shortly after this, Mowbray and the
prisoner, with their children, went to
live at Hendon. On the 22d of Sep
TENDER, 1864, a son, named John Rob
ert William, about one year old, died,
and on the I'd ofMay, 1865, daughter,
named Mary Jane, died. The two
last named were attended in their i'll
ness by Mr.. Gammage, surgeon, Sun
dcrland, and he states that they both
died of gastric fever. The deceased
W. Mowbray and his family were all
insured in the British and Prudential
Office, and on the death of her husband
the prisoner got f35, and some small
Ter amounts on the death of the chill
dren. She then obtained a situation
in the old intirmary at Sunderland,
and there remained about six months,
when she became acquainted with an
inmate named George Ward. He mar.
ried her, and they went to reside in
Grey street, Sunderland, where he died
on the 2lst OF October, 1866, aged thir-
ty-three. Mr. Gammage attended him,
and, although he was an ailing man,
he considered that lie dropped off very
suddenly. The prisoner then obtained
a situation as housekeeper to james
Robinson, a foreman in ship-build.
ing yard at Pallion. In June 1867, he
married her, and they continued to re.
side together at Paliion. When Rob
inson married the prisoner he was q
widower 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, 81
and during that time there died in his
house John Robinson, ten months old,
the fourth of January, 1867; James
Robinson, six years old, the seventh Of
April, 1867; Elizabeth Robinson, eight
years old, the thirteenth of April, 1867;
Elizabeth Mowbray, nine years old
the second of May 1867; and Margaret
Robinson, three years old, December
1867. Mr.. Gammage attended E. Now
bray, and he states she died of gastric
fever. Mr.. Shaw, surgeon, Deptford
attended the Robinsons, and lie states
they died Of gastric fever. 1t is stated
above that the prisoner lived will
Robinson until the latter part of De
cember. 1867. About this time he llat
found out that she had involved hin
in about ego debt, besides pledgins
his clothes and disposing of his house
hold linen and goods. She had alst
charge of his bank book and buildin.
society book, and also found that sll'
had wasted upward of ESQ, and en-
tered sums in the building societ,
book which she never paid in. Rob
inson's sisters also began to talk abou
the deaths of the children, and toll
him they had been poisoned. Robin
son taxed her with dishonesty, an,
said what he had heard about the chill
dren's death was going to be true. AT
ter Robinson left the house that day
she dressed herself and took one of he
children, about eighteen months OLD
and went out. and he has never sec
her since. She left the child in til
street with a person until she wen
to post letter, but she never re
turned, and Robinson did not recoye
his child for some time, when lie foun
it in a wretched state. He states ths
he now feels convinced that his chi
dren were poisoned. He suspected s
at the time, but he did not like Il
mind to dwell Oh tile subject. The
were healthy and strong, and only ill
few days before they died. He notice
whenever she gave them anythir
they vomited, and were sick an
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