At approximately 7.45 am, on Monday 1 December 1745, Ann Gaze heard a strident knocking at her front door, at 1 Providence Place, Brewers Green, Westminster. Going to answer it, she found that the caller was Martha Browning, a woman who lived with Ann’s mother, sixty-year-old Elizabeth Mundell, at 11 Rochester Street, also in Westminster.
A somewhat breathless Martha explained that Elizabeth had been taken ill that morning, at about 7.00 am, and was now very poorly indeed. Ann Gaze wasted no time in accompanying Martha back to Rochester Street. What she found there, puzzled her a good deal.
Elizabeth Mundell was not, as might be expected, lying in her bed. Indeed, three heavy chairs had been piled up on Elizabeth’s bed. Ann Gaze turned to ask Martha where her mother was but, even before she could say a word, her unspoken question was answered. There, on a large box behind the door, lay Elizabeth Mundell, still in her nightclothes, with a cord tied tightly around her throat.
Ann called out for assistance and a number of people from other rooms inside the house, came to her aid. A baker’s boy actually cut the cord around Elizabeth’s neck whilst Ann ran to fetch a surgeon. It was all to no avail. Elizabeth Mundell was dead.
The inquest on Elizabeth opened that same day and, after the proceedings had closed, Ann and Martha returned to Providence Place, along with Ann’s husband, Edward Gaze, who said that he would lay out Elizabeth’s body. In preparation for this sad duty, Edward remade Elizabeth’s bed and, as he did this, he found that the mattress was wet. It was not, however, wet on top. It was the underside of the mattress that was damp, suggesting that it had been turned. This too appeared to be somewhat curious. Nevertheless, despite their growing suspicions, Ann and Edward asked Martha Browning if she would like to stay with them, until after the funeral. Martha accepted this kind offer and stayed with the Gaze family on both Monday and Tuesday night.
On Wednesday 3 December, Martha Browning announced that she needed to change a £5 note and went to a local shop to carry out that task. She returned within minutes to say that whoever had given her the note must have played a trick upon her because the shopkeeper had pointed out that it was a prank note. The note looked perfectly real but instead of bearing the legend ‘Bank of England’, it was headed ‘Bank of Elegance’. Ann and Edward now knew for certain that all was not as it should be. They knew that Elizabeth Mundell had owned two such notes and, as if further proof were needed, the note that Martha now held in her hand bore a tell-tale grease spot which Edward had seen before. He was certain that this note must have been taken from his mother-in-law.
On the pretext of reporting this spurious banknote to the police, Edward said that he would gladly accompany Martha to the police station. Martha did not seem particularly keen to speak to the police but eventually agreed that it was the best thing to do. The two of them then left Rochester Street and headed for Scotland Yard. However, Martha dawdled along the streets, walking ever more slowly, encouraged by Edward to keep up. Finally, as they approached the police station itself, Martha seemed to half collapse in a faint, and as Edward went to assist her, she cried out, ‘I cannot keep it any longer. I murdered the old woman, and deprived your wife of her mother.’
A constable was summoned and he assisted Edward Gaze in taking Martha to the police station. He, in turn, handed Martha over to his inspector and, later that same day, Martha Browning was charged with the wilful murder of Elizabeth Mundell. Her trial, on that charge, took place on 15 December 1845.
The first witness was Ann Gaze, who said that she had known the prisoner for some six months. After telling the court of Martha’s visit to her house, on the morning of 1 December, Ann gave evidence about the cord she had found around her mother’s neck. The cord had been wrapped around Elizabeth’s throat twice, and was tied tightly at the side.
Mary Cheshire was another lodger at Providence Place and lived in the room next door to the one Martha shared with Elizabeth. She testified that she had last seen Elizabeth at 10.30 pm, on Sunday 30 November, at which time she was in good health and good spirits.
At around 7.00 am the following morning, 1 December, Mary had been woken by a cry of ‘Murder!’ The cry appeared to be in Elizabeth’s voice and even as Mary rose from her bed, another cry rang out. This time Mary was certain that it had been Elizabeth Mundell’s voice and she then went next door to see if she could help in any way. Mary knocked on the bedroom door but there was no answer. She knocked for a second time and finally Martha called out, ‘Nothing’s the matter.’ Mary did not investigate further, but returned instead to her bed.
Some fifteen minutes later, there was a knock on Mary Cheshire’s door. Climbing out of bed again, Mary found that it was Martha, who told her that the old lady had been very poorly. It was Mary who advised Martha to go and tell Elizabeth’s daughter. Martha then left the room, only to return minutes later with her coat and bonnet on. She said that she was going to fetch Ann Gaze and asked Mary to keep an ear open in case Elizabeth made any noise whilst she was gone.
After Edward Gaze had given his evidence, the prosecution called Elizabeth Stevens. She had been near Horse Guard’s Parade, on 3 December, when Edward Gaze and Martha Browning had approached her. By this time, Martha was in a fainting condition and Edward asked Mrs Stevens if she would fetch a policeman for him. Mrs Stevens said she was in a hurry to get to Bayswater but, before she left them, she heard Martha cry, ‘I have done it now. I have done it. For God’s sake, pray for my guilty soul.’
Constable John Adams had been near Scotland Yard, on 3 December, when Edward Gaze had approached him and told him what had happened and what Martha had admitted. Edward then handed the Bank of Elegance note over to Adams, who then took them both to the police station and handed Martha over to Inspector Partridge.
Mary Fitkin was another lodger at Rochester Street. She testified that on the day of the inquest, she had heard Martha explain that she had been unable to open the bedroom door when Mary Cheshire had knocked because, at the time, she was holding Elizabeth down and washing her face to revive her.
Matthew Little lived at 71 Regent Street, but worked for a master baker close to Rochester Street. He had been at work, on the morning of 1 December, when Martha Browning had rushed in shouting, ‘For God’s sake, send a man; there is a woman who has hung herself.’ Matthew followed her back to the lodgings and it was he who cut the cord from Elizabeth’s throat.
The police officer who had taken charge of Martha was Inspector Francis Partridge. When Martha was brought in by Edward Gaze and Constable Adams, she had announced, ‘All I can say is, I am an unfortunate creature. You may do with me what you wish.’ Later that same day, Inspector Partridge had searched the bedroom where the body lay. In one corner, he found a box which contained a bible. That book bore the name of Martha Browning on the inside front cover, showing that the contents of the box belonged to the prisoner. Inside that same box, the inspector also found a length of cord identical to that cut from Elizabeth Mundell’s throat.
The next witness was Mr Charles St Clare Bedford, the coroner who had presided over the inquest on 1 December. Those proceedings had taken place at the Coach and Horses Inn and Martha Browning had been the first witness. The statement she had made was then read out in court. It began, ‘I have known the deceased, Elizabeth Mundell, for six months, and have been lodging with her there three weeks tomorrow; she, was the widow of Thomas Mundell.’
‘She went to bed at eleven o’clock last night. She was quite well then, and was quite sober. She appeared to go to sleep soon, but she awoke me about an hour after we had gone to bed; she was turning about, and was restless. She did not then speak to me; she awoke me again, about four o’clock in the morning, with a sort of plunge in the bed; it quite shook the room.’
‘I asked her what was the matter; she said, “Nothing but a dream.” I asked her if I should get her anything; she said she did not want anything.’
‘She awoke at seven o’clock this morning; she seemed to have a fit; she threw her hands up to her face, and screamed. She screamed, “Murder!” What are you doing to me?’
‘I got up and washed her face with water, and asked if I should go for her daughter. I then went to the woman in the next room, and asked her if I had not better go for her daughter. I then went back to deceased’s room, and put my bonnet and cloak on; she was then in bed, lying quite quietly. I went to deceased’s daughter. I came back with the daughter in about a quarter of an hour. When we returned to the deceased’s room her daughter went in first, and I followed her. Deceased was then lying on the box; she had only her night clothes on. A cord was round her neck. I tried to undo the knot; her daughter tried also. I ran out of the house, and went to the baker’s shop; the baker came and cut the rope.’
After this statement had been read, the final witness, Dr John Charles Atkinson, was called. He said that he had found Elizabeth’s face to be pale, swollen and livid. Her eyes were wide open and blood had issued from her ears and nose. There was also some frothy matter, which had come out of her mouth. The cause of death was either hanging or strangulation, most probably the latter.
With all that evidence, and her statements, at the time of her arrest, there was little doubt as to the final verdict. Martha was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. There was to be no reprieve and, on 5 January 1846, twenty-three-year-old Martha Browning was hanged outside Newgate prison.