Yorkshire's Murderous Women

Book excerpt: Historical accounts of Englishwomen who have killed, their varying motives, and their final fates. Yorkshire history has its share of nasty and brutal murders, and the majority of these killers have been men. Statistics show that most homicides are men. But the records over the centuries have tales of murderous women too. Stephen Wade has investigated records across England to find stories of women from the mid-eighteenth century to mid-twentieth century who have taken lives through jealousy, hatred, or sheer desperation. Some of the tales are sad, melancholy accounts of infanticide committed in hard times, often when women were under terrible stress and suffering from poor health and mental problems. Other stories are about murders that got rid of an unwanted partner or brought some easy money to the killer’s pockets. You’ll also find accounts of courtroom trials that went wrong and false accusations, along with verdicts that sent women to Van Diemen’s Land or to prison for life. Here are some of the most dramatic stories of women who killed—including Louie Calvert, serial killer; the Beverley case of extreme cruelty on a child; and the Hull wife who wanted her husband out of the way for good. Includes illustrations and photos