The genuine tryal at large of Mary Blandy, spinster, for poisoning her late father Francis Blandy : at the Assizes held at Oxford, for the county of Oxford, on Tuesday the third of March, 1752.

Date:: 1752

Credit: The genuine tryal at large of Mary Blandy, spinster, for poisoning her late father Francis Blandy : at the Assizes held at Oxford, for the county of Oxford, on Tuesday the third of March, 1752. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Cover
Cover

12/16 page 12

and that he had left the Room, feemingly dif- pleafed, and would not eat any more Break- fair, but that he had faid nothing. The next D^y he, this Witnefs, went to Church, but Mifs did not; and when he came Home, Mifs afked him to take a Walk with her and her Father in the Garden. As they went into the Garden, fhe put a Letter into his Hand, and defired him to dire6h it as ufual to Capt. Cranfton, and put it into the Poft ; but he hearing that his Mafter was poifoned, arid Mifs fufpedted, he broke the Letter open, read it, and then carried it to his Mafter, who faid, Ah ! my poor love-flick Girl; but what will not a Woman do for a Man that Jhe laves ! Then the Letter was produced and (worn to, by Mr. Littleton, and read as follows. Dear Willy, T Father is fo bad, that 1 have only Time to tell you, that if you do not hear from me food again, do not he frightened; I am better myfelf; and left any Accident fhould happen to your Letters, take Care what you write. My fine ere Compli¬ ments, 1 am ever your s. Conn, for the Crown, Mr. Littleton, pray do you know, if that is the Hand-Writing of the Prifoner ? He replied he could not be certain, as (he could write much better ; but he was very lure it was the very Letter ihe had de¬ livered to him, and that it was fealed with three Wafers ; one in the Middle, and one at each End. Robert Harman was next called, and fworn. Coun. for the Crown, Mr. Harman, Did your young Miftefs at the Bar ask you to go away with her, after your Mafter was dead ? Harman. Yes ; Mifs Elandy afked me if I had got any other Mafter, and I faid no; and then (be afked me if I would live along with her,' and I alfo faid no ; that then fhe afked me if I would go away along with her, if I would, it fhould be worth 500/. to me. I then afked her where we were to go, and (lie faid to London ; I allied her then if we were to go to the North from thence, and file replied, No, perhaps to the Weft 5 and I aftiing again if we were to go by Sea or Land, fhe faid per¬ haps by Sea and Land too. Richard Fifher was next called and fworn, who faid he was on the Coroner’s Inqueft, and -on hearing that Mifs Elandy was gone to the Angel, he went after her $ that he fpoke with her there, and ask’d her if fhe would not re¬ turn home with him ; fhe anfwer’d yes, but fhe was afraid of being infuked by the Mob, and begg’d he would protect her ; that upon this he got a clofe Poft Chaife and brought her home 5 that upon her coming to her Father’s Houfe, and talking of the Affair, fhe ask’d him what could be done for her ; that he an- fwefr’d if fhe could produce any Thing that would fix it upon Cranfton, poftibly fhe might be fav’d ; that upon this, in fome Agony, fhe anfwer’d, I'm afraid I have deftroy d that which would have hanged that Villain ; but here take this Key, fearch my Drawers, and fee if you can find any Papers that will be of jervice ; that there being a Gentlewoman there who better knew the Houfe than himfelf, he de¬ clin’d going, and defir’d her to fearch ; that fhe did accordingly, but could find nothing of Confequence. Prifi Conn. Do you Mr. Fifher believe that the Prifoner had any Intention to go off, from what appeared to you, and if fhe was not verv ready to come back with you from the Angel, Fifher. She was very ready to come back, and defired me to protect her from the Mob,. and it did not appear to me fhe had any Defign- to make an Efcape. Mrs. Lane being called and fworn, faid, that fhe went into the Angel to her Hufband, who was there, and Mifs Elandy was with him j that fhe heard her Hufband fay to the Prifoner, when fhe firft went in, If you arc innocent, you will be acquitted, and if you are guilty, you will be punifked according to Law ; that upon this, Mifs Blandy ftamped upon the Floor, in a feeming Agony, and faid, Oh that damned Villain Cranfton 1 my Honour to him has been my Ruin. Then turning about, after a fhort Paufe, faid, But why do I blame him P I am more to blame ; it was I adminftered it, and knew the Confequence. Here the Prifoner’s Council afked this Wit¬ nefs if fhe was fare, on her Oath, that Mifs Blandy faid know the Confequence, or knew the Confequence, as there was a great Diffe¬ rence in the Expreffion, by the different Meaning of the two Words. Mrs. Lane. It being fo long ago, and not expelling to be called upon to fvvear it, I cannot take upon me to fay which. Mr. Lane was then called and fworn, who faid he was at the Angel, with Mifs Blandy, and talking with her concerning her Father’s Death, flic afked him what he thought would be

The genuine tryal at large of Mary Blandy, spinster, for poisoning her late father Francis Blandy : at the Assizes held at Oxford, for the county of Oxford, on Tuesday the third of March, 1752.

Licence and re-use

Contents