Speech

Horrid News From St. Martin’s, or, Unheard-of Murder and Poison

Being a true relation how a girl not full sixteen years of age, murdered her own mother at one time, and a servant-maid at another with Ratsbane. As also: how she very lately gave poison or two gentlewomen that since her mother’s death kept and maintained her. Upon which being apprehended, she has confessed the former villainies and was on Tuesday last being the 19th of this instant June, committed to prison, where she now remains. With the substance of her examination; the like unnatural wickedness scarce ever read of before in any age.

With allowance London: printed for D.M. 1677.

Poison and murder, etc.

A preamble, though usually the Excrescency of a Pamphlet, is to this Narrative essentially necessary, the matter being so very strange and unprecedented as requires some preparatory address to recommend it to the sober Readers belief; it scarce falling within the compass of imagination, much less credible probability, that an ignorant Girl that has nothing to be read in her face but Characters of Innocence, should be so well skilled and detestably practiced in the mysteries of poisoning; that a child should be so barbarously unnatural as to murder her own dear mother, so wickedly cruel that nothing could satisfy her revenge upon the least imaginary affront, but the lives of all that displeased her:  that she should begin this practice so early, continue almost two years in it undiscovered etc., might render the relation suspicious,  were it not a thing acted so near at hand, so lately prosecuted, so amply made out both by her own confession and other circumstantial examinations continues to acknowledge the same.

This Girl who has not yet attained to sixteen years of age, being left, or rather as now appears, having inhumanely made her self motherless somewhat above a year and a half ago, and consequently seeming an object of pity and charity, was accordingly on that account ascertained by a good lady, who being a widow, another gentlewoman of good worth in the same condition dwelt with her, under whom this unhappy wench might have lived very happily, they both carrying themselves very kind and indulgent to her; but having before made her felt guilty of two horrid murders, no wonder if divine justice to bring her to deserved punishment, suffered her by attempting a third villainy to discover the two first.

For so it happened, that upon some petty falling out or chiding from the two gentlewomen for some misdemeanor, or what other provocation for some misdemeanor, or what other provocation, is not yet certainly known, she became so wicked as to mix poison with some of their provision, as she prepared the same for them: of which they had no sooner eaten, but they both grew desperately sick, so that it was concluded they would immediately have died.  Some skillful persons being called, concluded by the symptoms that they were poisoned, and accordingly administered Alexipharmacks (or Medicines resisting and expelling poison) which with speedy vomits had such good success, as ‘tis hoped both their lives are safe, though one of them remains still in a very bad condition.

It was observable that a cat happening to lick up part of what one of the ladies and cast, fell into a strange fit of trembling and swelling, and in a very short time died.

The extremity of the danger being past, strict inquiry is made into the Author, who ‘twas found could be no other than this Girl, having passed through nobody’s hands but hers.  Hereupon she is strictly questioned, and at first denied it, though the changeable colours in her face, and trembling disorder gave her tongue the lie, and proclaimed her guilty.  At last after much importunity and some suggestions of pardon, she declared, that she did do it, and had given them poison once before, but in so small a quantity, that it only made them sick for a short time, without further mischief.  She alleged, that she was instigated thereunto by a certain woman, who is not yet found out, but on what occasion is not known.

Being further examined how she came by the poison, and whether she knew the destructive effects of it, she declared, that it was Ratsbane which she had had a great while, and knew what it would do well enough: for she had tried it twice before.  This last expression caused them to question her more strictly how she mean; she told them, that before ever she came to her mistress she gave some of it to a maid that was sick of the small-pox, and afterwards gave some of the same to her own mother; and they both died upon it.

This discovery, especially concerning her mother, filled all the company with amazement and horror, and made them inquire why she should endure to murder her mother; to which the substance of her reply was, that she was very sickly and troublesome, and she did it to be rid of her: and some such sorry reason she gave for poisoning the maid.

Hereupon she was taken into custody by a constable, and again examined before two justices of the peace; where her answers in effect were the same.  Inquiry having been made into the manner of her murders and that maid’s death, the circumstances confirm what she confessed, only were not taken notice of then, because there was not the least suspicion of any such attempt.

She is at present committed to prison, confessing still her crime, but begging of those that come to visit her, that they would mediate for her to her lady, to use her interest to get her a pardon: but these ‘tis conceived are vain childish hopes; and it will be better for her to repent, and prepare for her later end: that although she suffer justly in this world, she may through infinite mercy obtain forgiveness in that which is to come.

Speech