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.

    28/36 (page 20)
    Mr. George Hayme the Coroner fwore thalAnns James was fir ft brought before ftim and the Jury on Friday, and again on Saturday ; and that the firft Time fhe came, and after.fhe was fworn, be¬ ing asked before him and the Jury if fhe knew who fill’d, the Deceas’d, fhe anfwer’d, fhe could not tell; and being asked how the Deceas’d came by her Death, fhe anfwered, fhe did not know. . . . »«./ . w . • _ -i t ’ * i * d ■ / j, s y \ i -w i. i . . i. v . f Thus having ended their Defence, after as can¬ did a Trial as ever was heard, which failed about fix Hours, the Judge having fum’d up the Evi¬ dence to- the Jury, they, after a fhort Confidera- tion, without going out of Court, brought in their Verdift, Guilty *, and it was obferv’d that Mrs. Branch never in the leaft alter’d her Coun¬ tenance during the Trial, or at her Convicftion or Condemnation, but feveral Times kick’d Mary Vigor ^ one of the Witneftes againft her, as fhe flood by her at the Bar whilft fhe was giving her Evidence. *0 .-••• f ■ .'J •- V , - • r x y : 1.' .. T - ,, y «' m ** *.»' > —■ » v . i .» s.- .. .*x-* t J-. X -* •- « - x & '• .* The next Day at pafiing Sentence, Mifs complain’d to the Court of the Illegality of chang¬ ing the Jury upon them (meaning thofe that were challeng’d); for laid fhe. If we bad been trf d by the firjl Jury we had not been convidled* After their Return to their Lodgings, Mrs. Branch fhew’d very little Concern at her Fate, but feem’d to comfort herfelf with the Thoughts pf its being but a few Years fhortening her Life. Mils Branch ftvoon’d away, and continued in that Condition about three Quarters of an Hour, and as the Gentlewoman at whole Houfe they lodg?d .was giving her a Dram to revive her, Mrs. Branch pull’d her back, and cry’d, Zorns, what are you voinv