Perpetrator
Mary Ann Cotton
- Born
- October 1832
- Died
- 24 March 1873, aged about 41
- Record
- Wikidata Q292650 · Wikipedia
Perpetrator in The West Auckland Poisonings
Born Mary Ann Robson at Low Moorsley, County Durham; nurse, dressmaker and housekeeper. Convicted of murdering her stepson and hanged at Durham.
1872–1873 · West Auckland, County Durham, England · Executed
A County Durham nurse buried husbands, children and a lover to 'gastric fever'. A seven-year-old stepson's death finally brought arsenic to light. Read the case.
Dated events
She marries Frederick Cotton bigamously at St Andrew's, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Frederick Cotton dies at West Auckland of what is certified as gastric fever.
Arsenic is found in samples kept by Dr Kilburn, and Mary Ann Cotton is arrested.
Charles Edward Cotton, aged seven, dies after a few days' illness.