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.

    5/36
    floe was apprenticed to Mrs. Branch, that Jhe might be the flronger confined to nndergoe their Cruelties, which Jhe often declared floe would not have done but jor that Beliefs and having no Friends to fly to for Redrefs. The Lights feen the Evening before the Body of the deceafed was taken up, having made fome Noife in the World, it may be expelled fome Notice Jhould be taken of them. I ‘ John Clarke, a Butcher of Mells, faith, that as he was going to Hemington, Shrove Tuefday Evening, between Seven and Eight d Clock, when he came near a Houfe, called Dover-Caftle, on the Hill above Hemington, he objerved a Light afcend to a great Height, like a Sky-Rocket, and feem'd by his Guefs to arife from Hemington Churchyard, and coming nearer the Brow of the Hill he ob- ferved a fecond, and going down the Hill he faw a third, and all burfl with Reports like Sky-Rockets, and he imagined they had been really fuch; and being pretty near when he faw the laft, fays, that it feemyd to be fired from Hemington Tower; and having been 30 Tears at Sea, is well acquainted with fuch Fire-Works, and was pleafed to fee the Country People perform fo expertly as they appeared to him, and fo he exprejfed himfelf