This book tried to shed light on a serial killer that time has forgotten. 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. 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. Between 1843 and 1890, another 48 socalled black widows were convicted and put to death. 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. The first part of this book, looking at mary ann cottons life prior to her trial in 1873, is a bit confusing.
It is a complex indepth book on a complicated case spanning decades and impacting the lives of many. All of our paper waste is recycled within the uk and turned into corrugated cardboard. Jun 10, 2019 initially broadcast in 2016, itvs dark angel brings the story of one of britains first serial killers to life in a chilling twopart drama. Britains first female serial killer by david wilson, a criminologist. Weve been obsessed with the mary ann cotton story ever since the book came out and so as this documentary on her caught our eye we wanted to share this with you all too. A 19th century childrens ryhme was born out of her famed crimes. Up in the air selling black pudding a penny a pair. She was regarded as britains greatest female mass murderer. Dark angel is a british twopart television drama miniseries, based on the adaptation of the book mary ann cotton.
Mary ann cotton allentown public library overdrive. Sep 28, 2016 it is claimed she murdered over twenty people and was the first female serial killer in england. 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. Sep 03, 2015 mary ann geering was by no means the only such case of a female murderer in victorian england. Mary cotton was born in north england during the victorian period. Mary ann cotton may have been the most prolific poisoner of the period but she wasnt unique. Initially broadcast in 2016, itvs dark angel brings the story of one of britains first serial killers to life in a chilling twopart drama. Maryann cotton is a danish american shock rock singer, songwriter, and musician. Mary ann cotton was born on 31st of october 1832 in low moorsely now city of sunderland, county durham, uk. Mary ann cotton was only when 40 she was executed for the murder of charles cotton, her stepson. It is claimed she murdered over twenty people and was the first female serial killer in england. 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. Britains first female serial killer by david wilson.
In some very poor communities, infant mortality was as high as. 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. 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. When margaret died of mysterious stomach ailments, mary ann was there to console her brother. This book was the inspiration for the itv drama dark angel. 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. Short story about mary ann cotton and the short drop. William mowbray, george ward, james robinson and frederick cotton. Mary ann cotton, a nurse and dressmaker from the north. The fact that they were empty and not thrown away suggests that they were administered by mary ann cotton and as directed by the physicians.
Mary ann cotton, also known as the dark angel, was a serial killer who murdered up to 21 people, including her own children, mainly by poisoning them with arsenic. Judith flanders, bestselling author, journalist and historian. 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. A more dreadful object than mary ann cotton has seldom been seen as she made her way to the place of her execution. 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. Fresh interpretations mean this book is destined to be the definitive title on mary ann cotton. Mary ann cotton killed anywhere between 14 and 25 people with arsenic. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Dec 08, 2019 mary ann cotton, also known as the dark angel, was a serial killer who murdered up to 21 people, including her own children, mainly by poisoning them with arsenic. Mary ann cotton by arthur appleton, 1997, county durham books edition, in english. Plymouths forgotten serial killer mary ann cotton who.
The perpetrator, mary ann cotton, was tried and found guilty and later hanged on 24 march 1873 in durham gaol. David wilson does not write generic true crime, but history of the highest order. Frederick was the brother of mary anns friend margaret cotton. Who was mary ann cotton, and what crimes did she commit. 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. During her life, 21 people close to mary ann cotton died, many through probable arsenic poisoning. 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.
Mary anns trial began two months later, and the defense claimed that the deceased had inhaled. Her eyes turned up to heaven, her brave efforts to conquer her most terrible ordeal yet to come, her body in nervous tremors which by this stage shook her body from top to toe. Mary anns trial began two months later, and the defense claimed that the deceased had inhaled arsenic dust from wallpaper dye, a conceivable. She may have murdered as many as 21 people, including 11 of her children. There were certainly plenty of those around in the mid1800s. I found a female serial killer in my family tree atlas. It is likely that she murdered three of her four husbands, apparently in order to collect on their insurance policies, and many others. 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. 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.
At trial, defending mary ann cotton, mr thomas campbell foster put to the jury that her stepson charles died from inhaling arsenic gas produced from the dye in the green wallpaper of the cotton home. Dark angel he has certainly done that, including comprehensive research unearthing timelines, photographs, and excerpts from trial transcripts, personal letters and newspaper articles of the time. Unlike anna bates, mary ann cotton actually was a murderer, and one even more prolific than jack the ripper. She was remarking on the difficulty that care of cottons son posed for her intended next marriagevictim. The mother had to take care of three children, while suffering with the depression owing to her husbands death. As one of the uks leading commentators, david wilson shows how some serial killers stay in the headlines whilst others rapidly become invisible. The book also covers the lives of those left behind, including the daughter born to mary ann cotton in durham gaol. He took his name from the famous english serial killer mary ann cotton. Mary ann robson cotton 18321873 find a grave memorial.
Mary ann geering was by no means the only such case of a female murderer in victorian england. Yet mary ann cotton is not just the first but perhaps the uks most prolific fem. 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, nee robson, was born in 1832 in murton. Aug 11, 2016 weve been obsessed with the mary ann cotton story ever since the book came out and so as this documentary on her caught our eye we wanted to share this with you all too. Yet mary ann cotton is not just the first but perhaps the 1sts most prolific female serial killer, with more victims than myra hindley, rosemary west, beverly allit or male predators such as jack the ripper and dennis nilsen. Uncovering serial killer mary ann cotton the journal. Meet mary ann cotton, britains first female serial killer. However a point to note in mary ann cottons trial in march of 1873, was the confusion raised concerning the medications actually administered by kilburn and chalmers. Alun armstrong as george stott and joanne froggatt as mary ann cotton.
Mary ann cotton is not just the first but perhaps the uks most prolific female serial killer, and in david wilsons new book he explores how she. 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. A native of county durham, mary ann cotton is regarded as the most prolific female serial killer in british history. The drama was inspired by the book mary ann cotton. In spite of her history, she managed to find a fourth husband, frederick cotton. It was evident for all to see that she dragged her. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. As the telegraph reports, cotton was born in durham, north east england on oct. Join facebook to connect with mary ann cotton and others you may know. Overall it is an excellent book and a mustread for anyone interested in female serial killers. Mar 07, 2018 biography of familial poisoner mary ann cotton. Jun 11, 2019 who was mary ann cotton, and what crimes did she commit.
Marys mother remarried a few years later, but mary hated her stepfather. Outside of the north east, few have heard of mary ann cotton, and even in this region her story is not commonly known. 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. Mary ann cotton, nee robson, was born in 1832 to poor teenage parents who moved frequently so that her father, a miner, could find work. 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. Britains first female serial killer was the inspiration for the itv drama dark angel which is due to be shown in 2016. 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. Mary ann cotton the black widow serial killer youtube. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Linda stratmann, author of the book the secret poisoner.
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. Meet mary ann cotton, britains first female serial. 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. Mary ann s trial began two months later, and the defense claimed that the deceased had inhaled arsenic dust from wallpaper dye, a conceivable. Mar 20, 2020 mary ann was charged with the murder of charles edward cotton, and while she was in jail, a daughter was born in january 1873. Mary ann was charged with the murder of charles edward cotton, and while she was in jail, a daughter was born in january 1873. 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. Mary ann cotton dark angel paperback pen and sword books. Britains first female serial killer by david wilson, the drama works on the assumption of cottons guilt. Taken from the ultimate killer collection by stewart andel. Still, reevaluating that evidence by todays standards there could be reason to support an acquittal. Mary anns sudden change in circumstances left her living on the streets. Mar 24, 2014 a fuller account of mary ann cottons biography with a handy graphic of her suspected victims can be found in this article by the author of a recent book about the poisoner. By some estimates mary ann cotton killed as many as 21 people.
This book was the inspiration for the tv drama dark angel which w. I found a female serial killer in my family tree atlas obscura. Although her father fell down a mining shaft when she was. Yet mary ann cotton is not just the first but perhaps the 1sts most prolific female serial killer, with more victims than myra hindley, rosemary west, beverly allit or. 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.