The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-28

III attention in the nineteenth cen-
tury than that of Mrs. Florence
Maybrick, the American girl, who was ac-
cused of having poisoned her English
husband. Mrs. Maybrick was born in
Mobile, Ala, on September 3. 1862, and at
the age of 1s she married James May
brick on July 27. 1881, at St James
church, Piccadilly London. Returning
to America, they made their home at
Norfolk, Va. For business reasons they
later settled in the suburbs of Liver
pool England. Then came the tragic
death of the husband and the accusation
against his wife.
The indictment against Mrs Maybrick
was as follows:
THAT James Maybrick, on the 11th or
May, 1889, in the township of Garston
died from the effects of an irritant poison
supposed to have been administered to
hinl by Florence Maybrick."
Mrs Maybrick was arrested on suspi-
cion the following day by the superin-
tendent OF police. At the time she was
confined to her bed. 1t was generally
understood that the relation of the May
bricks was somewhat strained, but Mrs.
Maybrck always affirmed that it had
been patched up before her husband s
death for the ehldrcn's sake, there be-
ing a son and daughter.
On Saturday, May is, a hearing was
held in the bedroom of Mrs. Maybrck.
Superintendent Bryning made the
charge against the wife, and she was
hurried off to Walton Jail, in the sub
80 7 al ha
privilege of bidding good-by to her
mother Here she was shown to cell,
where she remained three days, when
her lawyer arranged that she should have
a modest room on the payment of 81 .25
a week.
The coroner's jury at the inquest made
the charge that the said Florence Eiz-
abeth Maybrick did wilfully, feloniously
and OF malicious aforethought kill and
murder the said James Maybrick.' The
medical specialists disag greed as to the
poisoning of Mr.. Maybrick, Dr. Humph-
reys asserting that no arsenic had been
found by the analyst in the stomach, but
small quantity. not sufficient to cause
death, was found in the liver. DR.. Car
ter agreed with Humphreys, but DR.. Bar
ron contended that he found both arsenic
and traces of arsenic in some bottles
and things which had been found in the
hou5e after death, as to where they came
from, or who put them there, no one
had any knowledge. Upon this evidence
Mrs. Maybrick was committed. A true
bill was found and she was brought to
trial on the 31st of July.
The trial was held in ST.. George $
hall, Liverpool. During all the days of
the trial Liverpool society fought for
tickets. Women. it is said, were attired
as if for a matinee; some brought their
luncheons, anc most of them carried
opera glasses. The English press had
for two months Supplied nourishment in
the form of tie most sensational stories
about the prisoner to feed the morbid ap-
!; petite of the public.
| When the trial began there was a
strong feeling against Mrs. Maybrick
but as it proceeded and the fact was
made clear that Mr.. Maybrick had long
been addicted to taking large quantities
| of arsenic, coupled with the evidence, tc
quote Sir Charles Russell %, that there
was no proof of arsenic poisoning; (2
that there was no proof that arsenic was
administered to him by his wife, tn,
| prejudice gradually changed until, at
the close of the trial, there was a com.
| plete levulsion of sentiment and the
prisoner confidently expected her acquit.
! tai
The jury was out 3S minutes aud they
/ found the prisoner guilty. Mrs. May.
brick, when asked by the court if she hat
anything to say, with firm voice, said
MY lord. everything has been agains
me; / am not guilty of this crime
| Mrs Maybrck was removed from tn.
courtroom to Walton jail, there to avail
the sentence passed upon her that sh.
| ''be hanged until she be dead, and ma,
the Lord have mercy upon her soul,' A
| the jail she was confined in the cell of tn,
condemned. The date of the execution
was to have taken place on August &c
The prisoner was given no hint of TIL,
public efforts for her relief. which wer,
many.
! Mrs. Maybrick was dressed in the con
victs garb and was kept in solitary con
finement. The sentence was not carried
out. On November 4, 1896, Mrs. May
brick was removed to Aylesbury prison
| She arrived there with a number of othel
convicts. In the meantime petitions wer'
being circulated al over England ant
America for the prisoners release. Th,
American petition was signed by tn,
| vice president of the United States. tn,
Secretary of State. James G. Blaine, an,