The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-30

No trial OF 81 woman attracted more
attention in tho nineteenth century
than that of Mrs. Florence Maybricll
the American girl who was accused OF
having poisoned her English husband.
Mrs. Maybrick was born In Mobile
Ala, on September 3, 1862. and at the
age OF eighteen sho married James
Maybrick on July ~, 1881, at st. James
Church. Piccadilly, London. Returning
TO America, they made their home ~
Norfolk, Va. For business reasons
they later settled In tho suburbs OF
Liverpool. England. Then camo the
tragic death of the husband and the
accusation against his wife.
Tho Indictment against Mrs May
brick was as follows:
THAT James Alaybricl5, on the 18th
Of May, 1889. in the township of Gar
.tant poison supposed to have been adj
ministered to him by Florence May
brick"
Mrs. MaybriclS was arrested on sus-
picion the following day by the super
intendcnt of police. AT tho time she
was confined to her bed. Ii was gen
orally understood that the relation OF
the Maypricks was somewhat strained.
out Mrs. Aiaybrick always affirmed
that 1t had been patched up before her
husbands death for the cllildren's
sake. there being q son and daughter.
[ held in tie bedroom OF Mrs. Maybricl..
Superintendent Eryning mado the
charge against the Wife, and she was
hurried off TO Walton Jail, In the sub
urDs Of Liverpool, not being allowed
the privilege OF bidding good-by 10
her mother. Here she was shown TO ii
cell. where SHE remained three days,
when her lawyer arranged that she
should have a modest room on the pay
ment OF $1.25 a week
Tho coroner's jury at the inquest
made the charge that the said Flor
fcloniously and OF malicious aCore-
thought XIII and murder the said
james Maybrick." The medical special
lists disagreed as to the poisoning Of
Mr.. Maybrick, DIR. Humphreys assert
Ing that no arsenic had been found by
The analyst In the stomach, but II
small quantity. not sufficient to cause
death, was found in the liver. DR..
Garter agreed with Humphreys, but DIR.
Barron contcnded that ho found both
arsenic and traces" of arsenic In some
bottles and things which had been
found In the house after death. AS TO
where they camo from or who put them
there. no one had any knowledge. Upon
this evidence Mrs. Maybricil was com
mitted. a true bill was found and she
was brought TO trial on the 3lst OF
July.
The trial was held in st. Georges
Hall. Liverpool During all the days
of tho trial Liverpool society fought
for tickets. Women, it is said were
attircd as II for "a matinee: some
brought their luncheons, and most OF
them carried opera glasses. Tho Eng
lish press had for two months sup
piled nourishment in the form OF the
most sensational stories about the
prisoner To feed the morbid appetite
Of the public.
When the trial began there was a
strong feeling against Mrs. MaybricS,
but as il proceeded and the fact was
made clear that Mr.. Maybrick had long
been addicted to taking large uuanti-
ties OF arsenic, coupled with the evil
dencc, 10 quote Sir Charles Russell:
I % that there was no proof OF arsenic
poisoning: (2) that there was no
proof that arsenic was administered
TO him by his wife. the prejudice grad
ually changed until, at tho close of tho
! trial, there was complete rcvulsion of
~ expected her acquittal.
The jury was out thirty-cight min
utcs and they found the prisoner
guilty. Mrs. Maybrick, when asked by
tho court ii she had anything to say,
with II firm voice. said: my lord,
everything has boEn against me; am
not guilty of this crime"
Mrs. MaybriclS was removed from
the courtroom to Walton Jaih there to
await tho sentence passed upon her.
that she "bo hanged until she be dead.
and may tho Lord have mercy upon
her SOUR At tho jail Bho was con-
| fined I'm tho cell OF tho condcmn-
[ ed. Tho execution was to have taxi
! en- place on August &c. Tho prisoner
was given no hint of the public efforts
for her relief, which were many.
f, Mrs. Maybriclk was dressed in the
convictB garb and was kept In soil
itory confinement The sentence was
not carried ont. On November d, 1896.