The Murder by Poison in 1847 of Mary THOMPSON by her Husband John

[Petra Mitchinson]

This is another really juicy story I found in The Times. The report of the trial alone takes up six emails! The statements of the witnesses give a fascinating insight into the lives of simple working people in one neighbourhood in the mid-1800s in Carlisle. The number of people mentioned by name is phenomenal, and I would not be surprised if some of you found a few rellies among them. I thought I had struck lucky with the DALTONs and McBRIDEs, but it seems they are not my lot...

It appears John THOMPSON (called THOMSON in the trial report), who had been married to his wife for 20 years, struck up a relationship with a widow called Margaret CAIN or CANE and needed to get rid of his wife to be able to marry his mistress. He used chronic arsenic poisoning as the means to achieve his object, but in his attempt managed to eat some of the poisoned food himself as well as poisoning (although not fatally) the neighbouring household! The surgeon in attendance does not appear to have harboured any suspicions until after Mary THOMPSON died. The subsequent police investigation showed that John THOMPSON had not managed to cover his tracks in any way, and he was indicted with murder, found guilty and consequently executed.

Below is a list of all the people mentioned in the report of the trial (minus the barristers). Anybody with spare time could look them up in the census!

THE MAIN ACTORS AND THEIR RELATIVES:

The murderer: John THOMPSON (at times called himself John PEEL), age 42, millwright at RICHARDSON's yard, lived in Union Street, Botchergate, Carlisle, on the first floor. He mentioned a brother, but no name given.

The victim: Mary THOMPSON née ATTIS, age 43, wife of John THOMSON. Died on Saturday, 29 May 1847.

They were married on 06 May 1827 at All Saints Church, Newcastle on Tyne (exact date from IGI). They lived at Camperdown near Newcastle at the beginning of their marriage. They had one child, who died some years ago.

Mary THOMPSON née ATTIS had a sister who married Christopher WANLESS, an innkeeper at Camperdown near Newcastle.

Margaret CAIN (spelt CANE in John THOMPSON's confession), John THOMPSON's mistress. She was aged about 35 (estimate by the newspaper reporter) and had been widowed for 8 years. Her husband had been a weaver. They had three children, one of whom had died. Her eldest son John was aged 11. She initially lived in South George Street, then moved to Sowerby Lane just before harvest in 1846. In about April 1847 she moved to Irving's Court, Botchergate (to a room rented by John THOMPSON for her), but moved back to Sowerby Lane in June or July 1847. She did harvesting work and otherwise worked as a capmaker, as well as having frequent male visitors (one witness alleged).

Margaret's sister Ann was married to Joseph M'NAY. They moved from Cockermouth to Margaret CAIN's residence in Sowerby Lane in about April 1847.

THE NEIGHBOURS, FRIENDS AND WORK COLLEAGUES:

Ann DIXON, single woman, next door neighbour in Union Street. Lived there with her 12-year-old daughter Sarah DIXON and her niece Barbara DIXON.

Margaret M'GLASSON, a widow living in Union Street.

Mary COXON, wife of John COXON, engineer. Lived in Union Street near the THOMPSONs. Had a 12-year-old son Robert COXON.

Ellen M'CORMAC, lived in Union Street.

Eliza HOYLE, wife of John HOYLE. Lived in Union Street, on the same stair head as the THOMPSONs.

Mary ROOKE, wife of John ROOKE.

Mary HALFEY, wife of Thomas HALFEY. Lived in Union Street on the floor below the THOMPSONs.

Jane DALTON, wife of George DALTON, lived in Union Street.

Eleanor GRAHAM, lived in Union Street.

James BUNTING, lived in Union Street.

Bridget BOYD, wife of Robert BOYD, weaver. Lived in Irving's Court.

Eliza MARTIN, wife of William MARTIN. Lived on the floor above Margaret CAIN in Irving's Court.

Edward M'BRIDE, weaver, and his wife Margaret. They lived in Botchergate, almost opposite Margaret CAIN's residence in Sowerby Lane, and their house was licensed as a beerhouse in 1846. They had children.

John CROSTHWAITE, clerk to the Carlisle Gas and Coke Company. Landlord of the room in Irving's Court rented by John THOMPSON for Margaret CAIN.

Thomas DRINKWATER, millwright employed by Mr RICHARDSON, work colleague of John THOMPSON.

George BELL, mechanic employed by Mr RICHARDSON, work colleague of John THOMPSON.

Thomas HIND, land surveyor, lived in Carlisle.

William GRAHAM, clerk in the post office. Saw John THOMPSON buying arsenic.

THE PROFESSIONALS:

Mr John MORTIMER, surgeon, attended Mary THOMSON for the last three days of her life.

Dr. Robert ELLIOTT, M.D., and his brother Mr Thomas ELLIOTT, surgeon. They performed the post mortem on Mary THOMSON and the chemical analysis for poison.

Mr. CARRICK, coroner.

Mr TURNER, the relieving officer.

John SAVAGE, police officer.

Joseph HAUGH, police sergeant.

James BOARDMAN, police officer.

John ASKWITH, surveyor.

James BELL, auctioneer in English Street.

John FISHER, shop attendant for Mr. CARLISLE, chymist and druggist in the town of Carlisle.

John BELL, a lad, apprentice to Mr. CARLISLE.

Enjoy!

Petra

[Margaret Walsh]

Good heavens Petra, I'm sure that if we all dug deep enough into the family
trees we'd find a distant rello somewhere, there are so many familiar names
here.
margaret in curl curl