The trial of Mrs. Branch, and her daughter, for the murder of Jane Buttersworth, before the Hon. Mr. Justice Chapple, at Somerset Assizes, March 31, 1740. With a just account of the prisoners behaviour at their trial; at, and after sentence; and at the place of execution / [Elizabeth Branch].

  • Branch, Elizabeth.
Date:
[1740]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The trial of Mrs. Branch, and her daughter, for the murder of Jane Buttersworth, before the Hon. Mr. Justice Chapple, at Somerset Assizes, March 31, 1740. With a just account of the prisoners behaviour at their trial; at, and after sentence; and at the place of execution / [Elizabeth Branch]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/36 (page 9)
    Would fait her Breech for her, and make her hot again, to which fhe anfwer’d as before, looking very ftrange with her Eyes, and groaning, I will Mifs, but made no Attempt to do it, not (as the Informant verily believes) being able to do it, nor to ftand if fhe had been fet upon her Feet; whereupon the laid Elizabeth Branch the Daughter, in the Prefence of the Mother, laid her down upon one Side, and rub’d her Breech, bloody as before with the Whipping, with the Salt, which the Girl took no other Notice of than to fay in a a low muffling Manner, I will Mifs; after which they bid this Informant give the Girl fome Bread, and Cheefe, fhe put fome into her Hands, but did not fee her offer to put it to her Mouth : But fhe the faid Jane Butterfworth put both her Hands upon her Head and groan’d very much, but did not fpeak, nor feem’d to take any Notice of any Body, whereupon the Mother and Daughter bid this Informant make what Hafte fhe could back. And further faith, that upon her coming back into the Kitchen, fhe found both the Mother and Daughter, by the Fire, and the Girl lying upon the Floor before the Fire, and that the Cap that fhe had upon her Head, when fhe left her m the Brew-houfe, and was then very bloody was taken off, and a clean one put on •, but that the Blood had run thro’ that likewife; they told this Informant the Girl was very bad, whereupon fhe fpoke to her, and called her by her Name; but fhe making no Anfwer, nor fhewing any Sign of Life, fhe faid to her Miftrefs, the Girl is dead, ihe reply’d, fhe is not, for I gave her a Dram juft now, and defired this Informant to carry her up Stairs to Bed, fhe reply’d fhe cpuld not, the Daughter then offer’d to help her, they carried her up between them, and put her into Bed •, when this Informant put her Hand to her Mouth, C and