Spooky period drama dark angel documents the life of mary ann cotton, a. Join facebook to connect with mary ann cotton and others you may know. More information about this seller contact this seller 21. For one night only professor david wilson, criminologist, author, commentator and tv broadcaster, will be giving a talk and launching his new book about north east serial killer mary ann cotton. Mary anns sudden change in circumstances left her living on the streets. When margaret died of mysterious stomach ailments, mary ann was there to console her brother. The author of this book believes she killed 17, based on the fact that their are no birth or death records for children she is supposed to have killed. Mary ann cotton was born in a small village in north england on 31st october 1832, to a miner father who died while mary was just 8.
She is thought to have killed five husbands, their children and other family members. An astounding story of a murderess who in turn became a powerless victim facing death. Britains first female serial killer was the inspiration for the itv drama dark angel which is due to be shown in 2016. With location photographs and a blow by blow account of the trial, this book challenges the claim that mary ann cotton was the the west auckland borgia, a title given to her at the time. A byproduct of the mining industry, it settled into the fabric of everyday victorian life. This new book from simon webb and miranda brown retells her story, reexamines the evidence and includes a startling new theory about the socalled west auckland poisoner. She may have murdered as many as 21 people, including 11 of her children. She then died on march 24th of 1873 at the age of 41. Mary ann cotton was in sunderland on october 31, 1832. Heres the story as wilson presents it in his biography. Britains first female serial killer by wilson, david isbn.
Although her father fell down a mining shaft when she was. A native of county durham, mary ann cotton is regarded as the most prolific female serial killer in british history. Mary ann cotton was born as mary ann robson in october of 1832 in low moorsley, county durham. Britains first female serial killer by historian david wilson and remains true to many of the details of how the poisoner got found out but. Furthermore, it is a book which explores all the evidence available and questions whether or not the conviction and execution of mary ann cotton in 1873 was the correct outcome. Mary ann robson was born, irresistibly, on halloween, in 1832, in sunderland. Meet mary ann cotton, britains first female serial. Mary ann cotton bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Hardback illustrated with four pages of black and white. Fearing that he was dying he requested his friends, george hedley and elijah atkinson to witness his will. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Mary ann was charged with the murder of charles edward cotton, and while she was in jail, a daughter was born in january 1873. See the county durham house where she murdered her last victim cottons letters, previously owned by descendants of her. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel.
Viewers of itvs dark angel scared to make tea after mary ann. Who was mary ann cotton and how many people did she kill. Oct 31, 2016 britains first serial killer ended her 20year poisoning spree in 1873, thrashing around at the end of a hangmans rope in durham jail. Britains first female serial killer by david wilson, the drama works on the assumption of cottons guilt even if some historians remain sceptical about the story. Ann lesley cotton born 1950 is a welsh entrepreneur and philanthropist who was awarded an order of the british empire obe in the 2006 queens new year honours list. Sep 28, 2016 with location photographs and a blow by blow account of the trial, this book challenges the claim that mary ann cotton was the the west auckland borgia, a title given to her at the time. The honour was in recognition of her services to education of young women in rural africa as the founder of camfed. Yet for her crimes, the woman nicknamed the black widow should be mentioned in the same breath as jack the ripper, the yorkshire ripper, fred west and harold shipman. The book not only includes the facts but also puts them into context and points out some errors on other sources of information about mary ann cotton. Marys mother remarried a few years later, but mary hated her stepfather.
Mary ann cotton is tied up with string where, where. As one of the uks leading commentators, david wilson shows how some serial killers stay in the headlines whilst others rapidly become invisible. Astrology and natal chart of mary ann cotton, born on 18321031. You can purchase a copy of mary ann cotton dark angel. Victorian serial killer enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. A brief investigation into the trial and execution of mary ann cotton. Nov 07, 2016 mary ann cotton, photographed in custody, when she was finally caught for murdering 21 people credit. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Meet mary ann cotton, britains first female serial killer. It also accounted for over a third of homicides involving poison.
Mar 12, 2012 when he began researching the life of north east murderer mary ann cotton, criminologist professor david wilson thought it was just an exercise in ruling her out of inclusion in his planned book on britains serial killers. Mary ann cotton killed anywhere between 14 and 25 people with arsenic. The series was broadcast on 31 october and 7 november 2016, and starred joanne froggatt as protagonist mary ann cotton, widely regarded as britains first female serial killer, who was found guilty of murder in march 1873 for. Other bodies are exhumed and when they are found to contain arsenic, she is suspected of their murder as well. She is strongly suspected of 14 or 15 murders, either for gain or to enable her to marry or both, and 21 people who were close to her died over a 20 year period. The perpetrator, mary ann cotton, was tried and found guilty and. Judith flanders, bestselling author, journalist and historian. As one of the uk s leading commentators, david wilson shows how some serial killers stay in the headlines whilst others rapidly become invisible or unseen. Ppt mary ann cotton powerpoint presentation free to.
These comprised of 10 children, three husbands, five. Mary ann cotton is famous for being the first female serial killer in britain. See the county durham house where she murdered her last victim cottons letters, previously owned by descendants of her lodger, sold at auction in 20 for. See mary ann cottons letters she wrote from her durham. On this date in 1873, prolific poisoner mary ann cotton whom some have tabbed britains first serial killer for an arsenic murder spree claiming 21 or so souls hanged at durham county gaol. For one night only professor david wilson, criminologist, author, commentator and tv broadcaster, will be giving a talk and launching his. Uncovering serial killer mary ann cotton the journal.
Buy mary ann cotton by david wilson from waterstones today. Mary ann cotton book launch in alnwick an exclusive charity event at blackshaws in alnwick on thursday 30 may 20. An intriguing insight into a question of law and forensics. Fresh interpretations mean this book is destined to be the definitive title on mary ann cotton. Jan 01, 20 although the case in hand refers to mary ann cotton this is a thoroughly interesting book written by david wilson, a professor of criminology at birmingham city university. Mary ann cotton born mary ann robson in october 1832 in low moorsley, county durham died 24 march 1873 was an english woman convicted of murdering her children and believed to have murdered up to 21 people, mainly by arsenic poisoning. As one of the uks leading commentators, david wilson shows how some serial killers stay in the headlines whilst others rapidly become invisible or unseen. Nov 01, 2016 viewers tuning into a new itv drama about britains first serial killer were left spluttering on their tea last night. Quiet, ordinary, yet lethal the perfect, innocuous murder weapon for a woman like mary ann cotton. Mary ann cotton was only when 40 she was executed for the murder of charles cotton, her stepson. This book was the inspiration for the itv drama dark angel. Dark angel is a british twopart television drama miniseries, based on the adaptation of the book mary ann cotton. Mary ann cotton was charged with the murder of charles cotton, joseph nattrass, frederick cotton and robert ronson cotton although she was eventually tried only for the murder of her stepson, charles. This book amalgamates crime and history two of my favourite things to produce a piece of work which highlights the notorious nature of serial killers.
She had a father named michael who was a miner and he was very religious and extremely aware of the effects of discipline. Astrology and natal chart of mary ann cotton, born on 1832. Biography of mary ann cotton excerpt mary ann cotton born mary ann robson on october 31, 1832 in low moorsley, county durham died 24 march 1873 was an english serial killer believed to have murdered up to 21 people, mainly by arsenic poisoning. Britains first serial killer ended her 20year poisoning spree in 1873, thrashing around at the end of a hangmans rope in durham jail. Mary ann cotton has the dubious distinction of being britain s worst female serial killer and her probable tally of killings would remain unequalled by either sex until the 1980s.
Outside of the north east, few have heard of mary ann cotton, and even in this region her story is not commonly known. Yet mary ann cotton is not just the first but perhaps the 1st s most prolific female serial killer, with more victims than myra hindley, rosemary west, beverly allit or male. This book tried to shed light on a serial killer that time has forgotten. The great strength of wilsons book is in providing an extensive examination of mary ann cotton and the murders she committed, framed within the context of britains industrial revolution. During her life, 21 people close to mary ann cotton died, many through probable arsenic poisoning. Up in the air selling black pudding a penny a pair. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. This book was the inspiration for the tv drama dark angel which will be shown on itv and pbs in 2016.
Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Tried and convicted for the wilful murder of her stepson charles edward cotton, with further allegations that she poisoned up to 15 members of her family. It is a complex indepth book on a complicated case spanning decades and impacting the lives of many. Mary ann cotton by arthur appleton, 1997, county durham books edition, in english. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. May 11, 2019 furthermore, it is a book which explores all the evidence available and questions whether or not the conviction and execution of mary ann cotton in 1873 was the correct outcome. An enthralling read david wilson does not write generic true crime, but history of the highest order. Early life mary ann robson was born in what is now the city of sunderland. Cotton was convicted and hanged in 1873 for the murder of her stepson, charles edward cotton, though she may have had as many as 21 victims, including three of her four husbands and 11 of her children. Mary ann s trial began two months later, and the defense claimed that the deceased had inhaled arsenic dust from wallpaper dye, a conceivable.
Nattrass was suffering from a kidney disease, and had been for many years prior to meeting mary ann cotton. In total, its thought she killed 21 or more people. Mary ann cotton, photographed in custody, when she was finally caught for murdering 21 people credit. Buy mary ann cotton first edition by appleton, arthur isbn. It sets out her life, trial, death and the aftermath and also questions the legal system used to convict her by looking at contemporary evidence from the. Frederick was the brother of mary anns friend margaret cotton. Two mary ann cotton shes dead and shes rotten lying in bed with her eyes wide open. Mary denied murder but she was found guilty on march 8 1873 and sentenced to death. It is likely that she murdered three of her four husbands, apparently in order to collect on their insurance policies, and many others.
Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Mary ann cotton, nee robson, was born in 1832 in murton. Britains first female serial killer by david wilson. By 1871, mrs cotton had moved to nearby west auckland where she lived until her arrest the following year and its believed that she was a regular customer at the sun inn. Viewers tuning into a new itv drama about britains first serial killer were left spluttering on their tea last night.
Overall it is an excellent book and a mustread for anyone interested in female serial killers. Mary anns trial began two months later, and the defense claimed that the deceased had inhaled. In spite of her history, she managed to find a fourth husband, frederick cotton. Mary anns trial began two months later, and the defense claimed that the deceased had inhaled arsenic dust from wallpaper dye, a conceivable.
221 1545 1185 1303 1226 819 742 801 381 983 871 265 529 1559 303 787 1222 326 435 790 36 619 1079 288 217 1324 56 90 600 113 479 499 574 833 1015 1244 107 1163 569 497 12 538 275 1408 1134 104 111 1339