Murder of Sarah Mitchell

Samuel Mitchell and his wife officially separated on December 17, 1804. Against her father's wishes, 9-year-old Sarah stayed the first night with her mother. This would upset Samuel.

The next day Sarah would go to her father's who was a weaver on Wheeler Street in Spitalfields, England. Sarah had helped out in the shop with quilling and her wheel was heard that morning. At 11:30 a.m. Samuel called downstairs to ask for the time. Between 11:30 and 12:30 he had used his shaving razor to slit his daughter's throat, the cut was so deep she was almost decapitated. The scene was bloody. At 12:30 he left and soon after he was gone a William Godby discovered Sarah's body.

Samuel to go to a friend telling him he had killed his daughter. The two would get a drink and Samuel would smoke a pipe. Afterwards, his friend asked him what he was going to do. Samuel told him he was going to get money from some friends for prison because he planned to turn himself in.

 He would be arrested later that day. He stated that his reason for killing his daughter was because he cared for her deeply. She did not want to be deprived of her and only see her occasionally. He decided that if he could not have her his wife would not either. 

At trial, he was immediately found guilty by the jury. He would be executed on Jan. 14, 1805.

SOURCED:
Capital Punishment UK 

Find a Grave

The Bury and Norwich Post Dec. 26, 1804

Jackson's Oxford Journal Dec 29, 1804
The Morning Chronicle  Jan 12, 1805
The Leeds Intelligencer and Yorkshire General Advertiser Jan. 21, 1805

Murder of Difficulty Talby

Difficulty Talby was born in 1635 to Dorothy and her husband  John in Salem, Massachusetts. The couple had moved to Salem from Lincolnshire, England in 1630. They were active church members in the Puritan community. Their 6th child Difficulty Talby was born in 1635 and was baptized in October of that year.

Dorothy was a faithful and respectable member of the church but she had a history of spiritual delusions.  At one point because of her delusions, she was cast out of the church. She had attempted multiple times to harm her husband and children. Even refusing meat. She had assaulted her husband in April of 1637 and failed to show up to court and was bound to a post till she "learned her lesson". She was again punished for infractions against her husband in July 1837 and was publicly whipped. She seemed to improve for a while, but it became worse. 

In November of 1638, Dorothy strangled and broke Difficulty's neck. She claimed that God had told her to do it. 

She was found guilty at trial and was hanged on December 6, 1638. It was said that she tried to make it less painful by putting the cloth covering her head under the rope and she was hanging she tried to grab onto the chair to save herself.

Difficulty may be buried at the Kings Chaple Burying Ground in Boston. 

SOURCES:

Find A Grave (Difficulty)

Find A Grave (Dorothy)

Executed Today 

Wikipedia

Winthrop's Journal

Murder of John Byrd

In 1842 John Byrd was lead by his son 16-year-old Amos into the woods. Amos told John that they were going to help with deer hunting with some neighbors in a wooded area in Jackson, Missouri. They mounted on horseback and went into the woods. They did not return that night and it worried the family. They searched and found Amos

They late found John underneath some brush. He had been shot in the back of the neck and the bullet exited under his mouth. He also had his throat slit. He was found within a few hundred yards of their house.

His son originally claimed that they met a foul stranger in the woods. He said that the stranger made threats against him if he did not leave him and the father alone. He stated he thought his father was shot because he heard the gun go off. The boy went to a house and stayed the night with a man. The man claimed to have also heard a gunshot.

Police did not trust Amos as his story changed several times. He then was brought in front of the Justices and then he admitted he had killed his father. He had stolen the gun from a neighbor and hid it in the woods. The motive for his murder was because his son was not allowed to use the gun. Articles talked about how the son did not have the mental capabilities to understand what he did. He may have had some sort of learning disability as he was described as "not a boy of ordinarily good sense" and a "simpleton".

(I believe the name of the son is Amos due to how one of the articles was clipped)

SOURCES:
The Radical 
Boon's Lick Time 

Murder of Emily and William Cockin

26-year-old George Cockin and his wife separated In September 1878. It wasn't said why the two separated, but it could be because his wife was an alcoholic at the time. The residents at the place they l lodged with Mrs. Hubbarks on Philidelphia Street in Bristol, England did not like her. She had been stealing curtains and linen from their landlord to sell for alcohol. When she left George was living with his five-year-old daughter Emily and 3-year-old son William. By October they had been living there for 5 months.

It was known that his wife would try to see the children while George was not home. He never saw her, but knew she was going to try to take the children away from him.  On October 13, 1878, the children's mother came to the home again. This time she brought toys with her for the children. He told someone else lodging there that to tell her she was unwelcomed and to go back to the man she was with.

The next morning on October 14 George went out and bought a frock and boots for his son. He did not go to work this day and seemed to be going in and out of the house constantly. He seemed sober for most of the day though. He then went out with the children for dinner. They arrived back home about a quarter to 5. He was witnessed holding his children's hands saying; "Come on Emmy and Willie; come with dada upstairs."

Another witness said that the children had seemed upset before going up. They had heard George take off his boots and then told the children to go to bed.

They then followed their father upstairs. William had come downstairs several times within 10 minutes and Emily came down each time to get her brother. About 5 or so minutes later George came downstairs crying. He did not have his boots or coat on anymore. He was also bleeding from his neck as he had tried to slice it. He said, "Mrs. Fowler do go up; I have killed my children."

Mrs. Fowler scared for the children rushed upstairs to find the children. Emily was lying on the floor of the landing and William was lying on the bed. Both of them had their throats slit, but were still alive. The room was said to be covered in blood.

The two children were carried to the infirmary. It was said that William's wounds were worse, but Emily was close to death. So they tried to work on Emily first, but she died within minutes. They then worked on William, but unfortunately, he also died 30 minutes later from his wound.

Witnesses claimed that George never mistreated his children. That he seemed to actually take great care of them. They noticed that he was sober most part of the day and seemed to be sober when he went upstairs with the children. He was drunk when he came back downstairs though.

His family was interviewed and asked if there was a history of mental illness in the family. His brother responded with a yes. They had several family members who were put in an asylum including a brother named William who died in one in 1869. A servant of his sister stated that she had once witnessed him 6 years before putting his head in a boiler hole saying he wanted to destroy himself and he was miserable.  He did have a history of acting strange.

He pled guilty for his daughter Emily's murder, but pleaded not guilty for William. His defense didn't claim that he didn't murder the children, but did so in a fit of insanity due to intoxication. The jury found him not guilty on that ground.

SOURCES:
The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post, Western Countries and South Wales Advertiser (Oct. 15)

The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post, Western Countries and South Wales Advertiser (Nov. 9)

The Lancaster Gazette 

Murder of Maggie Walker

Copy of the pamphlet given out prior to execution for 10 cents.

In May of 1879, 16 to19-year-old Maggie Blair ran away from home from Jonesboro, Tennessee to Russellville, Tennessee. It isn't stated why she ran away, but it's believed that her Stepfather Anthony Blair was a part of the reason. Maggie was described as a smart, and industrious girl.

Maggie was working for Esquire William Donaldson and his family. On July 29, 1879, Anthony showed up to the home of the Donaldson's. He had found out that Maggie was there and had ridden the train to get her. He walked into the kitchen and demanded she leaves with him to talk.

At the time Maggie was in the kitchen with Mrs. Donaldson preparing a meal. Maggie seemed afraid and told him she wasn't going outside with him and if he had anything to say he could say in front of Mrs. Donaldson.

Mr. Donaldson was arriving home at the same time. He had forced Anthony to leave the residence. Anthony didn't show up again till the night of July 30th a few nights later.

On the night of July 30th Maggie went up to a colored church near Russellville for a prayer meeting. She had gone with friends. After the prayer meeting, Anthony showed up again. He had found people who were at the prayer meeting.

Anthony went by the group, but went a short distance and took another road in which Maggie and other young folks were walking. He walked through the crowd up to Maggie who was walking in the back with Henry Taylor.

Maggie filled with fear as Anthony pressed Taylor away and grabbed Maggie's hand. “You must go home with me on the train to-night to your grandpapa,” He stated as he dragged her 150 to 200 yards down the road all while she struggled to get out of his grasp. She screamed that she would rather die than go back with him.

This enraged Anthony and he pulled out his gun and shot her twice. She didn't immediately pass and it had taken her 2 days to die from her wounds on August 1st. On August 8th Anthony Blair to be convicted and sentenced with the death penalty.

It was said when they delivered the death penalty that Anthony may have been the calmest person in the room. He just stared at the judge. He was due to die on September 26, 1879. He had made a deal with local doctors that he would will over his body after death for $15. This allowed to let him keep a supply of tobacco and candy.

On September 26, 1879, 26 guards went to Anthony's cell at noon. Anthony seemed unaffected and walked with a firm step to the wagon that would bring him to the gallows. After religious services were done by Rev. Geo. Branner Anthony sang a song and then talked for 30 minutes.

He stated his guilt but presented his facts for the reason it leads to him killing Maggie. The newspaper wouldn't state these facts as it was unsuited for the public to read/hear. At 1:30 a rope was placed around his neck and the black cap arranged. Buy 1:35 the wagon pulled away from beneath him. He had no pulse at 9 minutes, in 10 minutes his heart stopped beating, in 15 he was pronounced dead, and in 22 he was lowered into the casket.

His body was taken by the Doctors who paid him for it. medical students and doctors embalmed the body. His heart and brain were kept in jars. They boiled his bones in 1880. They were assembled and hung in the backroom of a Drug Store. They were used as a way to attract visitors to the store. A fire eventually broke out and burned down the store.

SOURCES:
Reasonable Doubt
Executed Today
The Olden Times 
Wikipedia
The Morristown Gazette
The Knoxville Daily Chronicle 
The Knoxville Daily Chronicle

Annice was the First Female slave executed in Missouri for killing children

In 1828 Jeremiah Prior of Clay County, Missouri owned slaves. This included Annice and her children. On July 27, 1828, Annice pushed some of the slave children into a body of water where five of them drowned. The children's names were Ann, Billy, Nancy, Nelly, and Phebe. Billy was 5 and Nancy was 2 and the other's ages weren't stated and these two were Annice's children.

Annice did have a jury trial and a defense attorney. She was found guilty of the murders. It was possible she wanted to get back at Jeremiah and to take away some of his valuable property. The children were slaves and considered property. She was publically hanged on August 23, 1828, by Sheriff Shubael Allen.

This lead to Annice being known for the first slave woman in Missouri to be executed.


SOURCES:

Wikipedia
Women and Capital Punishment in the United States: An Analytical History pg 117

Genealogy Trails

Mrs. Colley Murdered Her Three Youngest

On May 28, 1837, The George Colley, his wife Ann and their family lived in the Police station-house in Fenton England. That night their father was out of the home. Anne the mother of 5 children the oldest being 11 and the youngest 5 months put them all to bed in the room they shared with their parents. The two oldest George (11) and Josiah (9) were laid to sleep together. Their mother put James (5 months) in his cradle. Ann and Charles slept in their bed with their mother Ann.

 No one expected what was to happen that night.

The two older boys George and Josiah were screaming running down the streets. The boys were injured and were only wearing their shirts. The first person they saw they told them that their mother Ann Colley was killing their siblings. They had escaped through a window after being attacked. George and Josiah had injuries to their head and neck causing their shirts to be blood-soaked. George has one of his ears almost taken off and Josiah had a deep gash in his neck.

The boys had woken up to their mother trying to stab them. Josiah was able to escape first and then George through a kitchen window. At the time they had no idea what had happened to the younger siblings.

John Beardsworth who lived next door was one of the first to enter the police station-house the family inhabited. They went upstairs to the room the family slept in. That was where the horrors lied. Three other children two boys and a girl laid on the ground with their heads nearly severed. Their mother on the floor with them with her throat cut, but still alive.

When the Dr. arrived on the scene he tried to sew up her neck wound. She struggled and even bit the surgeon's hand in an attempt to keep him from saving her. With the assistance of three others he was able to sew it up and save her.

It had seemed as of recently her husband and the children's father had been discharged from his position. This lead the family to live in poorer conditions. They were only living day to day on the earnings from their household goods. Before her husband's discharge, she seemed to be of good character and went to church regularly.

She claimed they it wasn't her husband's fault that she had done this. She said that he was a good husband and father to the children. It was the distress from life that had caused her to want to end the childrens life. Wanting them in the good lord's hands.

When in the hospital she would pray to god and begged the nurses to read the bible to her. She was mentally unstable. When she was told that her two sons were doing well she stated: "God will take them for when they survive they must come to want."

It was brought out that George a few weeks prior caught his wife trying to harm the children (isn't specifically what she did) and threatened to send her to the asylum if she hurt them. He believed this set her straight, but unfortunately did not.

She was brought before a jury and they returned with the verdict of Willful Murder against her.

SOURCES:
The Morning Chronical
The Morning Post
Jackson's Oxford Journal

INFANTICIDE: March 30, 1881 Camden, Iowa Newborn Girl

In Camden, Iowa, a woman had a package sent to the county treasurer, John Addison Pierson in Centerville, Iowa. The package was pasteboard. The package arrived on March 30, 1881, by train and at the time John Addison Pierson went to see if there was any official mail for the county and if there was anything for him. He paid for the package not knowing what was inside.

He brought the mail to his office. He opened the package and what was inside was horrifying. There was a newborn baby girl wrapped in an old skirt. It was obvious that the infant was murdered. There was concentrated lye or acid poured down her throat and splattered on one side of her face and body.

There were suspicions about who the mother was, but nothing was proved. It's unknown why the infant was killed because it seems likely the baby was sent to get a proper and paid for the funeral.

I could not find any sources that said this case was solved. According to Iowa Unsolved Murders, it was not solved.

SOURCES:

Iowa Unsolved Murders 

Centerville Times

Centerville Times 

Catharine Higgs Murdered Her Daughter Mary

The date of the Murder of  Mary could not be found. Her mother, Catharine Higgs had drowned her in a pool near the Bell-Inn in Belbroughton, England. Mary was about 2-years-old when she was murdered. Catharine was found guilty of Willful Murder. She was executed on March 14 of 1782.

SOURCES:
The Derby Mercury
The Bath Chronical 
Capital Punishment UK

Murder Terms: Filicide

Filicide is the term used for parents who have murdered either their own children or stepchildren. The murder victims do not have to be children but do have to be the child of their killer. The parents who kill their children may have different reasons, to it is to protect, harm or get rid of their child.

According to one U.S. study that was done in 2014 used 32 years of data. They found that at least 500 filicides happen in a single year. At least 50 of the cases of filicide was from the last five years of the study were done to the disabled. And within the last three decades, the act of filicide has decreased and did not increase with the '90s with the population increase.

Filicide on children 6 and under have taken up 72% of the murders and 10% was between 7 and 18 and 18% were with adult children. 1/3 of Infants who were killed were less than a year old.  It was found that during times of higher economic stress that there are more cases of filicides (infanticide) involving infants.

A father killing their son is more possible (29.5%) than a mother killing her son (22.1%) In the cases involving daughters a mother will more than likely kill her (19.7%) than a father (18.2%). The rarest cases are with stepmothers killing their stepson (.5%) or stepdaughter (.3%).

Parents were more than likely to use their hands when murdering their children. Some examples are forced drowning, beating and or choking which is the case with 69% of infanticide. As the victim gets older weapons like guns are used which is the case with 72.3% of adult victims. Contact weapons like bats and edged weapons like knives were less likely used. Men were more than likely to use a gun than women. Stepparents are more than likely to use guns (40%)  than biological parents (21%).



SOURCES
Brown
Dictionary
Autistic Advocacy 
NCBI