Mary Ann Geering is known as the Guestling Murderess
Mary Ann was born in the parish of Westfield, about three miles from Guestling, in East Sussex in 1800.
She was the eldest daughter of 7 children born to George Plum and Sarah Mary Ascomb
Her Father George was said to be an honest, hard-working man, an agricultural labourer, who was respected by the inhabitants of the Westfield parish, where he lived for many years. Her Mother Sarah Mary was said to have been a quiet industrious woman.
Mary Ann Plum, it would seem, received partial education, in her youth, she went to the parish school of Westfield but as one of her school-fellows had remarked, ''she was more noted for her cunning and double-faced attitude, rather than her aptitude to learn.”
The following anecdote was told of her conduct, which will serve to some extent to illustrate her character at an early age:
Her Father and Mother were employed doing outdoor work in the summer season, and she and her sisters were left at home to attend to the domestic affairs. She was the housekeeper in her own home, while her parents worked in the fields.
One night on coming home as usual from the field George Plum was informed by his daughter Mary Ann that the house had been robbed during their absence. An instant inquiry was made and steps were taken to find the culprit, after considerable difficulty, they eventually found the thief to be no other than Mary Ann.
She had taken several articles of wearing apparel and pawned them, the money used for her own purpose.
Shortly after the above occurrence, being of sufficient age, she was sent out to service, and in the year later found her employed as a maidservant at Coghurst farm, in Ore Sussex for Mr Thomas Smith.
Here she became acquainted with Richard Geering, who was also employed on the farm.
At the age of 16, she was married to Richard age 21, on 27 Dec 1816, having been in advanced stage of pregnancy, at St Mary & St Peter Parish church in Pett Sussex
They had left Coghurst farm for Westfield. They probably had no choice, as relationships between servants was frowned upon in those times, it was seen as a nuisance, considered disruptive to work and therefore discouraged.
She gave birth to their Daughter Jane in April 1817.
Although it was said it wasn't a particularly happy marriage they had 10 children (2 girls and 8 boys). George arrived in 1818, and James in 1822.
Her husband was then employed as an agricultural labourer, at Copshall House in Guestling for farmer Mr John Veness and they resided at Harmer’s cottages near Guestling.
After living for seven or eight years in Harmer's cottages, they moved with their young family to a cottage in Guestling Green, and this was where the rest of the family were born, and grew up, Son Alban was born in 1825, George in 1827, Benjamin Richard in 1831, Edwin John in 1834, Mary Ann in 1836, Andrew in 1839 and finally Peter in 1842.
This was also the place where some dark deeds were committed, which gave the name Geering, the house, and the parish, notoriety in the annuals of crime.
Their eldest daughter Jane had gone off into service, like her mother did and on 26 November 1836, at age 19, she married 23-year-old Andrew Broom from Newington London at St Mary Church, Lambeth.
Her father died in May 1838, at age 65 years and he was buried on 1st June, in Westfield churchyard.
The death of her father, some would say, had a great effect on her mind. In the church during the funeral service, she was so overcome with grief that, under the advice of some of her relatives, she was persuaded to go home. She left the churchyard for that purpose, and nothing more was seen of her until the company were returning to the house of her father and they were met on the road by Mary Ann with a clock, which hung up in her father's kitchen, under her arm, a memory of her dead father.
The following year in Sept 1839, her mother died at age 70 and was buried on 30th September, at Guestling Parish Church.
On 11 Apr 1841 in Guestling Parish Church, their 2nd born child William, age 23 married, Philadelphia Borns, age 20 and in later stages of pregnancy. They lived with William's parents and she gave birth to their son James, a month later.
In 1846 Richard Geering was left the sum of £20 from a relative, which he deposited in the Hastings Savings Bank and the deposit book was given to his sister for safekeeping.
On 13th September 1848 things began to take a deadly turn.
Richard Geering was taken ill with a sickness and five days later died. The diagnosis was given as heart disease and he was buried on 17th September at Guestling Parish Church.
Then in November 1848, William's wife aged 27 died from consumption, and she was buried on 5th November at the Parish Church in Guestling.
William, his wife and his three children James age 7, Fanny 4 and George age 2 had moved into the old Workhouse in Guestling, so after his wife's death William employed a servant, to keep the house and look after his children, while he worked as an Agricultural labourer.
Then just a few weeks later at the end of 1848, 21-year-old George became ill, with violent bouts of sickness and raging thirst. Although nursed by his mother during the day and brother James by night, he finally died on 27th December and was buried on 31st December at Guestling Parish church.
Then just a few months later after George's funeral, James aged 27, was taken ill with the same symptoms and died on 6th March 1849.
Then a few weeks later on Easter Sunday, Benjamin Geering, 18 years old was taken ill, and after two or three days of sickness, he was attended by two doctors and eventually, they removed him from his mother's care.
Benjamin recovered which threw suspicion on his mother. The doctors finally came to the obvious conclusion that he had been poisoned.
The coroner the ordered under Police supervision, to exhume all the bodies in the family
These facts had been laid before the Coroner for East Sussex, Mr N. P. Kell, Esq. in an inquest, held on Thursday 26th April at the White Hart Inn, Guestling, into the deaths of Richard, George and James. Mr Thomas Arkcoll was appointed foreman of the jury.
The Coroner, having sworn the Jury, said, they had had been called on account of certain circumstances, of rather suspicious character, having been laid before him respecting the death of three men, namely, Richard Geering who died seven months ago, George Geering five months ago, and James Geering one month ago.
It would be their duty on that occasion to go to the Churchyard and view the bodies, which had been disinterred for that purpose. They would have the assistance of the medical men who were in attendance and they would make a post-mortem examination of the bodies proposed merely to view the bodies and then adjourn until the medical gentlemen were ready to make a report. He said entering into the evidence at that time would be rather premature.
They then adjourned to the Guestling parish church-yard, the coffins containing three bodies were brought out of the church, where they had been deposited after disinterment, and laid on the green sward, when Messrs Ticehurst, Duke, Sarery and assistants, proceeded with their examination.
The first coffin opened was that, containing the body of the father, which was not only in an advanced stage of decomposition but surrounded by stagnant water. The smell arising from there was most nauseous. Identification was impossible, yet from some cause or other, the stomach was in a good state of preservation, although it had been seven months In the grave. The thighs, tides, shoulders, and head, were quite black, but the upper abdominal parts were comparatively white.
The sexton identified the coffin, he had made it, placed it in the grave, and taken it again. The body was opened, and the stomach and other internal parts were taken and put in a jar, for analysis. A similar process was gone through with the other two bodies.
The body of George was at once identified by several parties present, but that of his brother was not. In this case, however, the initials of his name were visible on the lid of the coffin.
At the close of the examination, the coroner called the jury into the church and adjourned the inquest till the following Thursday, each juryman being bound over, in his recognizance, to appear on that day at ten o'clock, when the result of the post-mortem examinations would be laid before them.
In the meantime, Mary Ann was apprehended on suspicion of administering poison to her husband and two sons, and brought Hastings on Thursday evening last, at six o'clock, for examination
She was then remanded and sent straight to Hastings Gaol. Benjamin went to live with William, along with Edwin age 16 and the three youngest children, Mary Ann 13, Andrew age 9 and Peter age 7, were sent to the poor house in Hastings.
Little attention was paid either by the father or mother to the education of their children, who were said to have grown up 'decidedly ignorant and indifferent to the improvement of their minds'. Subsequently, however, a reformation took place in the family, and shortly before the attempts were made and the elder children, had devoted many of their evenings to the acquisition of writing, and it was led to understand that the two young men who fell victim to their mother's crime, attained to more than usual perfection, of taking the labouring class generally, as a criterion.
The description of the general character of Mary Ann Geering was ''low and grovelling, mixed up with a vast amount of sly cunning'' Anyone who spoke to her observed he would never look the party to whom she addressed herself in the face.
She made a constant practice on Monday mornings of taking her husband and son's best clothes to the pawnbroker’s and redeeming them the Saturdays, and it would seem that ultimately she got deeply involved in difficulties from this decidedly expensive method of raising money, that she was furnished with additional inducement to commit the horrid crimes for which she has this day be accused.
On the morning of Friday 27th April morning, Mary Ann was brought up in custody for examination at the Magistrates' Clerk's Office.
The magistrates present were, Mr W. Brisco, Esq., Mr F. W. Staines, Esq., and Dr MacCabe.
It had become generally known that the examination was to take place at 11 o'clock and so a large number of the inhabitants assembled in the High street hoping to catch a glance at the supposed perpetrator of the horrid crime, she was suspected of but she had been brought to the office at least half hour before the time specified, so the majority were disappointed. The crowd did not disperse, but the contrary, the number was considerably larger at the close of the examination and they succeeded in having their curiosity gratified as a short but rather stout Mrs Geering exited the Clerks office. It was said there was something very repulsive In her appearance, she was particularly smooth-tongued in her expressions, and perfectly confident in her manner.
During her examination, she held a smelling bottle in her hand, which she frequently used.
The Clerk said, Mary Ann Geering, you are charged with having administered arsenic or some other poisonous substance to your son, Benjamin Geering, to take away his life. What have you to say, why you should not be convicted of this charge
Mary Ann: ''l have never administered poison to him. I have given him nothing but what the doctor gave me to give him. God Almighty knows I never did such a thing.
Clerk: ''You are aware that the bodies of your husband and two sons have been disinterred?''
Mary Ann, sitting perfectly composed: ''Yes, sir''
Clerk; ''And that the inquest has been adjourned till next Thursday''.
Mary Ann: ''No, I did not know that''.
Clerk: ''That, however, has nothing to do with the present charge. After this examination, you will be remanded till a future day.
Mary Ann: ''Thank you, sir''.
John Alexander Thompson was then sworn:
''l am superintendent of the East Sussex Constabulary. I apprehended Mary Ann Geering and brought her to Hastings for examination. I searched her house and found a quantity of red precipitate in the front room on the top of a nest of small shelves, which was wrapped in paper with the word poison labelled on it. She said it was for the children's beds.
Mary Ann ''So it was, sir, for they are apt to get vermin when they go to school''
Witness: ''l found several medicine bottles, but there was nothing particular in them. She said she had not had arsenic in the house for many months. She told me this, without putting any question to her. There was a large phial containing a quantity of Capivi hidden in the garden, which I now produce. She previously told Jeffrey that she had not had any arsenic in her house for twelve months.
Mary Ann: ''l do not know that I had any since that time''.
Mr F. Ticehurst was then sworn:
''I am a surgeon in Hastings. Mrs Geering called on me to attend to her son, Benjamin Geering, on Friday, the 13th of April at her home The young man is about 18 years of age and a labourer by trade. I was first asked to see him by the mother, who had met me in Hastings on the previous Wednesday. She said she would be obliged to me if I would go and see her son, as she had lost her husband and two sons, and that this one was attacked in precisely the same way; that Mr Pocock had seen him, and said that he could do nothing for him; that she was consequently not satisfied, and wished me, when I went to Guestling, to call. I said I would not do so, without Mr Pocock’s approval, as her son was a patient of his through the Bradshaw charity. I met her again on Thursday, the 13th, near the workhouse, when she told Mr Pocock had no objections to me seeing her son. Mr Pocock, I believe, (turning towards Mary Ann) had seen him that morning''
Mary Ann: ''Yes, sir, he had''
Mr Ticehurst continued: ''I promised her I would see her son the next day. On the morning of that Friday, I received a note from Mr Pocock, which said that he wished to visit the young man. I did so in the afternoon. He described himself as suffering, since the Sunday previous, from vomiting, burning thirst In the throat, pain at the pit of the stomach, and tenderness in the belly. These symptoms, great irritation of the stomach and burning beat In the throat were sufficient proof that he had taken something of poisonous nature. I could not account for these appearances, with any food had received. I recommended certain medicines for him which he took.
I saw him again on Thursday the 19th. He met me at the door and said he was a great deal better and able to go back to work. Mrs Geering was not home at that time. I heard nothing more from him or of him until Tuesday 24th, when I heard, not from any member of the family, that he had been taken ill again. was very much astonished me to hear this, and I went in the afternoon of that day to see him and found him in bed''.
Mary Ann: ''Yes, sir, you called in the afternoon''.
Mr Ticehurst continued: ''l then inquired into all the circumstances of his case, and noted down his statement in my pocketbook. He told me he was as well as ever he was in his life until the morning of Sunday 8th April (Easter Sunday) before breakfast After he took a cup of tea, he was immediately taken ill. Mr Pocock saw him on Monday 9th April, and I visited him on Friday 13th. He brought up a quantity of green matter. The urgent symptoms then went off and he got better, until Saturday 21st April, when he said he ate a bit of bread and cheese and drank a cup of coffee, and thereafter he was again taken violently ill, the symptoms being the same as already described, having vomited nine or ten times.
When went to see him on Tuesday the 24th, I found a chamber pot under the bed containing a quantity of greenish fluid, which, in the presence of his Mother, he said he had vomited. I poured it into a bottle and took it home. He was a great deal worse that day than was on the I3th when I first visited him. The symptoms were more conclusive than in the former instance. He said ''I am so thirsty that I am afraid to drink.”
MaCabe: ''Very conclusive''
Mr Ticehurst: ''l have analysed a portion of the matter I took home with me and found it to contain poison. I applied Marsh test and also Rensch's test, which though not infallible, are to a great degree of satisfactory. I do not give a decided opinion on the matter until I make it still more evident by completing my analysis. I visited him on the next day, accompanied by Mr Pocock, when the matter vomit, was more like expectoration than that which I got the previous day. He told me, in the presence of the prisoner, that he had vomited that morning. I have taken it and tested likewise, but there is not much poison in it in that of the day previous. I asked Mrs Geering, both on Tuesday and Wednesday, in the presence of her son, if she had any arsenic in the house. She said she had had nothing of the kind for more than twelve months. I repeated the question, and she said she did not need it because she had a very good house cat at the time. She heard all that the young man told me, and said it was right. She further remarked that they had all taken tea out of the same teapot.''
Mrs Geering: ''We did so, and he poured out the first cupful himself''.
Mr Ticehurst: ''The young man said nothing to the remark made by his mother. We thought it right to remove him from the house as something had been given to him which was not correct. He is so poorly that he cannot attend this examination. I may also mention one other circumstance. On Tuesday I gave orders that he should take nothing but water to drink. He said he would take nothing else. I afterwards found that his mother gave him ginger beer and some nice milk''.
Henry Pitman was then sworn in:
''I am a druggist at the Creek in Hastings. I have known the prisoner for the last 20 years. I am not mistaken about her identity.
She came to shop on Monday, the 2nd of April, and got 6 6-ounce bottles of balsam of capivi and spirit nitre, for which I charged her 1s 6d, she did not pay it and that is the reason l am so sure of the date. She said it was for her son. He had got a bottle of it, the previous week, for which he paid me. She called my shop a fortnight or three weeks before, but I do not recollect whether she bought any arsenic then. I know positively that she had some in February. I was out of it when she called, so I ordered it from my wholesale druggist who supplied me with a parcel of the goods on the 12th of February, amongst which was some white arsenic''.
Mary Ann: ''You are false speaking man. You remember what you ought not and don't remember what you ought. You know my sons have come for drugs''.
Henry Pitman: '' never knew your sons''.
He then continued: ''The prisoner was once or twice at the shop for arsenic previous to that date. She said she wanted to destroy rats, as she was much pestered with them. A few days after I received my parcel she came for the arsenic. She got a pennyworth or one dram. I labelled it in the usual way with the word poison.” She called at different times for arsenic. On one occasion she wanted two pennyworths, one for herself and one for another person who employed her to get it. She said the person was also pestered with rats. Except for that time she never had more than one pennyworth at once. She always bought something else at the same time, occasionally bergamot for a scent. She got some arsenic on several other occasions, one a short time before Christmas, and another in the autumn of last year. She got arsenic three or four times last year, about the end of the summer, to kill rats. I sold it as white arsenic, a strong poison. It was unadulterated when sold it''.
This closed the examination for the day and Mr Brisco remanded Mary Ann.
On Saturday 5th May, Mary Ann Geering underwent another examination before the County Magistrates at the Town Hall, Hastings,
The Magistrates presiding were Mr W, Brisco Esq. Mr G. Scrivens Esq and W. D. Lucas Shadwell, Esq.
The Hall and the street leading there were crowded to suffocation.
Mary Ann, who it was said that at her first committal to prison had refused to eat, but who had since returned to her food, was described as ''looking wretched''. She had undergone a great change in her body if not her mind.
PC Thomas Jeffry was worn in and deposed:
He searched the Geering house and found pawnbroker’s duplicates issued from three different shops,—three of them in the name of Apps. Some of the articles pledged belonged to her son Benjamin and they were pledged on the 2nd of April. He also found a pass-book of the Hastings Savings Banks. From that book appeared that on the 31st January, 1846. the sum of £2O was deposited by the husband, Richard. All that remained in there was 1s. 4d., the rest had been drawn out at intervals ending May 1848.
Benjamin Geering was next called:
Mr Shorter (addressing him) said: ''Your mother is charged with the most serious offence against the laws of the country and yourself and you must be examined. Whatever your feelings may be toward your mother, you must not forget that you are solemnly sworn to speak the truth and the whole truth and that if you conceal any part you will be equally culpable and punishable, as if you prevaricated. You must not conceal anything. It is a most unfortunate affair but feelings must not operate our duty to God and man.
Benjamin who appeared to be very weak, was then sworn. He said:
''l am the son of the prisoner and I am 19 years of age. I resided in Guestling, I have lived with my mother for the last twelve months.
Living at home at the time were my father and mother, brothers George, James, Edwin, Andrew, Peter, my sister Mary Ann, and myself. One brother, Alban, lived at Icklesham. Another brother, named William, was married and lived near us at Guestling.
My brothers George and James and myself used to go home for dinner but my father would take his with him. My mother would prepare it.
On the 13th of last September, my father (Richard Geering) died at his house at Guestling. My father was not well before, a little time before harvest, he kept holiday then, for three or four days. He was taken in the last illness, of which he died, with the sickness. I do not remember the day of the month, he became ill on Friday night. I saw him in bed on Sunday and he told me he was ill, complaining of heat inside and he continued like that all day. My mother nursed him. I never went near him from Sunday to Wednesday. I did not think he was dangerously ill, or I should have gone to see him sooner. I do not know whether he had any great pain or thirst. Mr Pocock attended him. I believe only saw him once after he was taken ill. On Wednesday morning, he complained to me, that he had trouble breathing and I remained with him until he died at about one o'clock. I saw my father after he was dead. There was not much alteration in him. He was buried the Sunday following. His coffin was screwed down on the Friday.
My brother George died on the 27th of December. He was 21 years old. He was ill for a month and four days. I saw him often while he was ill. He complained of pain in his heart and constantly vomited. He cried for water while he was ill. He recovered a little and then fell back again ill. Mr Pocock attended him. He went off very easy when he died.
My brother James died on the 6th of March. He was a Waggoner for Sir John Ashburnham He was ill for five weeks and three days. He was very sick, also complained of a pain in his heart and craved for water. During his illness, I saw him vomit up green and yellow. During the five weeks, James got better, then became ill again. Mother nursed him and no one assisted.
My mother laid him and my other brother out but she did not lay father out.
Previous to Good Friday I was very well. That was until the 6th of April. I was taken sick that night. I had not been at work that day. I breakfasted and dined at home. The meals were eaten by my mother, myself, and the rest.
I went before breakfast to fodder the bullocks. We all got round one table. Mother made the bread, which was usually made in large loaves. I never saw any small bread. I had a cup to myself, and I generally drank my tea or coffee all at once. I think we had meat pudding for dinner''.
At this part of the examination, the witness answered the questions, with great reluctance. Mr Scrivens reminded him that it was his duty to God and man to speak the whole truth. The examination resumed:
''l did not drink anything with dinner. In the evening I went to the beer shop close by. I had not eaten or drank between dinner time and my going into the beer shop. I there drank four or five glasses of beer. I poured it from a pot of which others were partaking. I went home and between eight and nine o’clock I was taken ill and sick. It was all over that night and I did not feel any more of it the next day.
My mother said nothing to me and did nothing for me. I thought it was the beer that made me sick but I did not hear of anyone else being sick. Beer does sometimes make me sick.
On Easter Sunday morning I got up early and went to the farm. I returned home to breakfast; and felt very well till I had breakfast. We sat down together. My mother was there. we had tea for breakfast. Mother poured out the teas soon after breakfast, I was taken sick. I had a great heat in my throat. I could not take anything. On the Tuesday Mr Pocock
was passing and the neighbours sent him over.
Sometime on Monday, my mother said I had better have a doctor. I said, ''if he came this way, he had better come in.”
I was very thirsty but I dared not drink, as I could not keep it down.
When Mr Pocock came, he looked at me. I told him my sensations, and he said he did not know what to do for me. He sent me four pills. I took two of them at night. The sickness never stopped
On the 11th my mother went to see Mr Tlicehurst and on the 13th he came. My mother was present. Mr Ticehurst ordered me a bottle of medicine and some powders, which I took. The sickness went off and I got better.
On Saturday, the 21st of April, I was again taken ill with the same symptoms. That morning I had either tea or coffee for breakfast. Mother sat down with us. I did not see the liquid, for my mother helped me to it. I was very sick and experienced the same tightness of the chest and burning heat which I experienced before.
The Sickness continued until Tuesday. I did not see Mr Ticehurst or Mr Pocock until the 24th. when Mr Ticehurst came in the afternoon. I had been sick on that morning more than once. From time to time I was sick and what came from my stomach was emptied out of the basin. I was confined to my bed. Not long before Mr Ticehurst came, I had vomited. What I had brought up, he took away with him. The vomit was the same colour liquid, as my brothers'
On the 25th, Mr Ticehurst and Mr Poeock came together. Mr Ticehurst then took away what I had vomited.
I was that day removed from the house, by order of Mr Ticehurst, and have since continued to get better.
I do not know arsenic when I see it. I never saw any powder about the house, nor any papers with the word ''poison'' on them. We have had cats for a long time but have not had rats.
I never knew my brother James had any mixture, made privately to give to the horse.
I have this morning been to a pawnbroker's shop in All Saints Street, Hastings''.
A ticket was produced by PC Jeffry and I saw a jacket, a pair of trousers, and a neck handkerchief.
Benjamin continued: ''I did not know they were there. I have not seen them for five weeks, for I have not been able to put them on. They were kept when at home in my box. I never gave my mother, or anyone else, leave or liberty to pawn them.
I belong to the Guestling Friendly Benefit Society. From that, while ill, I receive 10s. a week. If a member dies, one shilling is collected from each member and given to whoever is entitled to receive it. My father and two brothers belonged to it. At the death of each, my mother received £5''
Mary Ann: ''You know I have never given you anything''
Benjamin: ''Not to my knowledge, you have not''.
Thomas Houghton, the Pawnbroker was then sworn in:
He gave witness to Mary Ann pawning several articles of clothing at his shop on the 2nd, 5th, and 14th of April.
Mr John James Pocock, A surgeon residing at Winchelsea, deposed:
He saw Richard Gearing in the autumn of last year. He had pain in the chest, difficulty breathing, and sickness and he gave him some calomel and an aperitif. This was two or three days before his death. He also attended to both the sons, each had the same symptoms.
The pills which he made up for Benjamin Geering contained no arsenic.
Mr Frederick Ticehurst, a surgeon at Hastings, was recalled and deposed:
He was induced to see Benjamin Geering, and from his symptoms on seeing him the last time, he was induced to think that his illness was caused by the introduction of some irritant into the stomach.
He had tested the vomit brought from the house and was satisfied that they both contained arsenic. He had since taken a portion to London, to Dr Taylor, and he tested it, in the presence of Mr Ticehurst and the result left no doubt whatever.
The copper produced was copper in its pure bright slate; the other piece was in the same state until placed In the vomit when it became coated with arsenic. The same occurred with the copper gauze produced. He had also gone further in the analysis and produced arsenium, the base of arsenic.
Dr, Taylor considered that there must be two and a half grains in it. That quantity was sufficient, under favourable circumstances, to cause death, supposing arsenic had been taken on an empty stomach or in any fluid which would have held it in solution; but it would appear to have been taken on a full stomach which, when the action of sickness came on, caused the greater portion to be thrown off.
The examination lasted upwards of six hours The bodies, which had the contents of the stomachs sent to Mr. Taylor, of Guy's Hospital, for analysis. The analysis was not yet complete in all the cases. In two, 'however, arsenic had been discovered in sufficient quantities to account for death. As far as it went, the evidence afforded strong grounds for suspicion, and the proceedings having lasted till a late hour of the day,
the magistrates resolved to remand Mary Ann til the following Saturday and she was then removed back to the Hastings gaol.
The adjourned Inquest heard the witnesses and returned the verdict of Wiflul death of Richard, George and James against Mary Ann Gerring.
She stood before Lord Justice Baron Byron at the Summer Assizes on the 1st of August
They heard from all the witnesses again.
During Benjamin Geering's evidence, It was submitted to the court that Mary Ann's Daughter Jane Broom was anxious to retain counsel to defend her Mother. The Chief Baron said she might do as she pleased and he would allow her time to give the necessary instructions. Julia then stated she must throw herself to the mercy of Justice, as she had no means to employ counsel. Chief Baron said that all he could do was to put the request out to any senior counsel present, who would watch the case on her behalf. Julia replied that she would be most satisfied if that was done and Mr Hurst consented to act for the prisoner.
They also heard from her other Daughter Mary Ann Geering who went through what she knew about the illness and death of her father and brothers. She also stated that she did not know of any rats in the house and had never heard her mother complain about them. She never knew of her mother buying medicine for others or making it herself. She would sometimes take her father's dinner to him.
Her Son Alban aged 24 years, also took the stand. He said was not living with his parents and relaying his memory of the deaths. He said he was not aware of any Arsenic in the house but his brothers had mentioned rats in the house, although he had never seen any himself and just before James died, he had seen some medicine for the horses and knew it was their medicine, as his brother James had told him so.
About a month after his father's death he asked his mother if his father had drawn all the money out of the savings. She said he had not and there was £12. He did not recollect seeing the saving book.
Edwin Geering age 16, said he had heard rats scratching at night but had never seen any.
Charlotte Shrubsall was another new witness who was sworn in after Mr Shrubb's testimony. She stated she had been in Mr Stubbs's shop one time when Mrs Geering bought some arsenic. She stated one was for Sir John Ashburnham, it was to be used on his cattle.
Mr Pittman the Chemist in Hastings provided evidence that she had been on four occasions to his shop since Autumn 1848, purchasing arsenic. The last time was in February.
Mr Hurst for defence pointed out that Two Pennyworth was a large quantity of Arsenic to be selling over the counter to a stranger.
They also questioned Sir John Ashburnham who stated that he had not permitted Mary Ann to buy any arsenic for him and also stated that his servants had no authority to administer any medicine to the horses, without his sanction.
Judith Veness deposed that she assisted the prisoner to lay out the body of the deceased, and while they were so engaged the prisoner said it was a disease of the heart that her husband died of. Some months before the death took place the prisoner said that her husband was a great trouble to her, and she wished he was dead. While they were engaged in laying out the body the prisoner said she was sorry he had been taken from her so suddenly.
Evidence was then given that the body which had been exhumed was that of the deceased and that when the coffin was taken home the prisoner wished the body to be screwed down immediately.
John Hawkins Sexton and grave-digger of Guestling, deposed that upon the occasion of the burial of the deceased, the prisoner looked out a piece of ground in the churchyard, and wished him to ask Sir John Ashburnham to allow her to have it, as she said she had a long family, and she should wish them all to be buried together. She at the same time requested that her husband's grave be six feet deep and that a piece of plank should be put over the coffin to keep the earth from it. Four feet was the usual depth of a grave in that parish.
In reply to Mr. Hurst.: ''I did not doubt that the effect of putting the plank on the coffin was to preserve it.''
George Hawkins, father of the last witness, proved that the cost of the funeral without the church fees was £2. 5s. The deceased and his two sons were buried close to each other, following the request of the prisoner.
Alban Geering recalled by Mr Hurst: ''l heard my father say before his death that he would like to be buried in a six-foot grave, and have a slab placed on his coffin to keep the earth from it''.
Mr.F.Ticehurst, the surgeon at Hastings, who had attended to Benjamin and raised the alarm of what he believed to be happening deposed:
On the 26th of April, he was present when the bodies of Richard Geering and his two sons were dug up, and he afterwards examined the body of the deceased father. There was a considerable quantity of fluid in the coffin, and the body was almost swimming in it. The head and face were very much decomposed, but the external portion of the abdomen appeared in good preservation. The intestines were of a pink colour and were not decomposed. The right lung adhered to the pleura covering the ribs. The heart appeared healthy, as also did the liver. The pink appearance of the intestines indicated severe inflammation, and he did not doubt that the inflammation was the cause of death. He then afterwards placed the contents of the abdomen, the stomach, the heart, the pericardium, and the liver in a jar, which he sealed, and afterwards delivered to Professor Taylor on the 1st of May.
He then stated that upon examining the other two bodies, those of George and James, he discovered similar appearances to those exhibited in the body of the father, and he said that he placed those portions of the internal organs which he considered necessary in different jars, and handed them also to Mr Taylor.
Mr Ticehurst likewise expressed his opinion that the appearances he observed upon the post-mortem examination induced him to come to the decided opinion that the deaths were occasioned by the exhibition of some irritant poison Mr. Ticehurst also deposed that the vomit of Benjamin was like-wise given to Professor Taylor for analysis.
He then explained his position when he was called upon to attend Benjamin, Benjamin concerning his symptoms, and it appeared that after describing what he suffered, he said that his fathers and brothers suffered in the same way immediately before their deaths. He added that upon hearing what Benjamin said, he called to Mrs Geering and told her that he had just received an account of the circumstances, connected with the death of her husband, and he wished to know if it was correct. He then read to her what he had taken down, and she said it was all right. The symptoms he had described were those which would result from the taking of arsenic. In answer to a question he put to the prisoner, she said that she had not had any arsenic in the house for twelve months, but said that she used to keep "the stuff" at one time for the mice.
On the following day, he again asked the prisoner if she was sure she had not had any arsenic in the house, and she said she knew she had not had any for several months, as during that time she had kept a good mouse cat. Upon a subsequent day, a large pill or bolus was delivered to him by Jeffrey, the policeman, and he gave that also to Professor Taylor. Ticehurst analysed a portion of this pill, and in his opinion it contained arsenic.
In reply to questioning by Mr. Hurst: ''Irritant poisons were sometimes administered in medicine, and arsenic itself was given, but never to a greater extent, than a quarter of a grain, and then always in solution. If a person were to die immediately after the administration of such a medicine, the arsenic, in his opinion, would not be discovered in the body in the smallness of the quantity. The effect of arsenic was very different on different constitutions. For some people, it would be longer before they exhibited the symptoms than others, and would also exhibit them to a different degree''
At half-past one o'clock the Court adjourned, to take some refreshment, and the trial was then resumed.
Mr. Pocock was recalled.:
''l administered no arsenic either to James or George Geering. I attended George for several weeks and gave him a considerable quantity of mercury. He had during part of the time as much as twelve grains of blue pill per day, which would be equal to four grains of metallic mercury. l am a member of the Royal College of Surgeons''.
Mr Duke, another medical gentleman from Hastings, corroborated the evidence of Mr Ticehurst concerning the appearances presented by the bodies of the deceased on the post-mortem examination.
Dr. Taylor was the next witness. A hospital professor in London. He deposed that on the 1st of May, he received some jars from Mr. Ticehurst, and analysed their contents afterwards.
He then proceeded to state that concerning the organs and viscera belonging to Richard Geering, the result of the usual scientific tests to which he subjected them, was the production of arsenic both in a metallic and crystallised form. The whole quantity of arsenic which he discovered was seven grains, but a much greater quantity must have been taken, as the whole of the body was impregnated with the poison. He could not state the exact quantity, but that it would have been very large, and he could not attribute the death, from all the appearances he observed to any other cause than the administration of arsenic.
Witness afterwards subjected the contents of the jar which contained the viscera of George Geering to the same chemical process and ascertained the presence of quicksilver or mercury, but no arsenic, and he considered it possible that if the person had lived for some time after the administration of the last dose of poison that the arsenic might have been entirely expelled, and have left no trace in the stomach. From the appearance of inflammation, however, that was present, he did not doubt that the death in this case was also the result of the administration of arsenic.
Upon examining the viscera of James, he discovered the presence of arsenic, and that poison was no doubt the cause of his death. Upon examining the vomited liquid of Benjamin, he discovered that it contained two grains of arsenic. He likewise examined and analysed the pill or bolus that had been referred to, and he found it was composed of arsenic, opium, and some vegetable substance, probably linseed powder. The effect of the mixture of opium with arsenic would be to deaden the pain and to check vomiting, but it would not in any way prevent the deadly effect of the poison.
in reply to questioning by Mr Hurst: ''In the very centre of the heart of the deceased, Richard Geering, he discovered arsenic, and he did not doubt that the whole of the body was impregnated with it. The actual quantity he produced was seven grains, and he found no arsenic whatsoever in the body of George Geering.
Professor Taylor also stated he had never heard of arsenic being administered to horses either internally or externally. It was used for sheep in solution to destroy vermin. It would be necessary to boil arsenic for a considerable time to make it dissolve efficiently for such a purpose, and it would be dangerous to use the vessel in which it was so boiled for culinary purposes unless it was afterwards thoroughly cleansed.
Mr. J. G. Shorter, clerk to the magistrates for the Hastings division, deposed that while the prisoner was under examination upon the charge of feloniously administering poison to her son Benjamin, with intent to murder him, she made a statement to the effect that she was innocent of administering anything wrong either to her husband or her children, and declaring, at the same time, that she had not had any person in the house for months, and that she had given nothing to her children but what the doctor had sent them.
A Witness called William was then called, who deposed:
About three years ago he frequently heard Mary Ann and Richard quarrelling and upon several occasions, he heard Mary Ann say that she wished the old might drop down dead before he came home, and that someone would come and tell her of it, that she might get rid of him. He also said that the quarrels were mostly upon the subject of money.
Another Witness spoke about hearing the prisoner say that she did not like her husband, and she never could, and she hoped she should pass one year without him.
Next was Sarah Beaney, sister to Richard Geering:
In 1846, she accompanied him to the savings bank at Hastings and saw him deposit a sum of £20 there, and the book which had been produced by the constable was the one he received from the bank. In March 1847, by direction of the Richard, she drew £5. out of the bank. The book was always left in Sarah's possession but a few months after March 1847, the prisoner came to her and took it away, saying that her son Alban wanted to look it over.
In reply to a question from Mr. Hurst: ''I can not say exactly when this occurred, but it was before my brother died.
Mr Bishop, the actuary of the savings bank, proved that during the years 1847-48, the prisoner drew out the whole of the remainder of the £20 except for a balance of 12s.4d. The whole of the money was given to the prisoner herself.
Where they knew the parties the production of the savings bank book by any member of the family was considered sufficient authority to pay the money.
Jane Broom, a married daughter of the prisoner, deposed that after the funeral of her father the prisoner said there was a little money in that savings bank, but the deceased wished it to remain there for twelve months, and then it was to be equally divided between the family. Her father and mother frequently had disputes about this money.
In reply to a question from Mr. Hurst:. ''My mother had been in the habit of purchasing drugs for other people, since I was a child; and people frequently got her to buy arsenic for poisoning rats, because she was known to the chemists''.
Joseph Honeysett, the steward of the Guestling Benefit Club, was then called, to prove that, upon the death of Richard Geering, he carried £5. 3s. 4d. to Mary Ann, which she was entitled to, being the widow of a member of the club. He said she had applied to him for the money on the same day that her husband died. It was the rule of the club that it should be given to the bereaved by each surviving member.
This was the case for the prosecution.
Mr Hurst then addressed the jury for the prisoner, and, did his best to defend her at such short notice
He begged them to remember that, although she was presently only arraigned upon one charge, he said it would be idle to attempt to deny that the prisoner had been tried for committing three distinct murders and that she was accused of poisoning her two sons as well as her husband.
This being the case, he asked them whether it was not a remarkable fact that although all the deceased persons were represented to have exhibited the same symptoms, no poison had been found in the body of George, and he submitted that, this might fairly raise a doubt whether the deaths had been occasioned by arsenic.
He then remarked: The alleged motive for the commission of the crime I can not believe that the jury would conclude, that for the sake of obtaining a few shillings from the burial society, for that would be all that would remain after the payment of the expenses of the funeral, a mother would deliberately destroy her husband and her offspring in such a horrible manner''.
He then questioned, that if the prisoner intended the horrible crime, why would she have gone openly to purchase the deadly ingredient from people who were well-acquainted with her?
He concluded his address by earnestly entreating the jury to take all the facts humanely into their consideration, and if any doubt suggested itself to their minds, to give the prisoner the benefit of it, and acquit her.
The learned Judge then summed up the whole case, and the jury, after deliberating a short time in the box, expressed a wish to retire.
They were not absent more than ten minutes, and at a quarter-past seven, they returned to court and gave a verdict of Guilty.
The Lord Chief Justice Baron Byron then put on the black cap and passed a sentence of death upon Mary Ann, who was then removed from the bar, apparently in silence, showing no emotion.
She maintained her innocence right up until the evening of Monday 20th August, the day before her execution, she finally made her confession of having poisoned her Husband and sons and attempted to take the life of her third son who had become the principal witness against her in her trial. The chaplain of the Gaol, Rev R Burnett, did not hesitate with the Holy Sacrament, upon doing this, he disburdened the mind of Mary Ann and she slept all through Monday night
On Tuesday 21st August Mary Ann woke early and was at once attended by Rev R Burnett and he remained with her until her execution.
It was recorded that around 3-4,000 spectators arrived to view the scene, one newspaper describing them as the 'scum of the population'
The drop of the scaffold had been erected within the Gaol but abutted onto the street
At a quarter to noon, Mr Gill and Mr Palmer, the under sheriffs, accompanied by Calcraft, the executioner
They proceeded to the condemned cell, and Mary Ann was dressed all bare-headed in black and wearing a black shawl, with a multicoloured border. Having been pinioned, she was walked to the place of her execution. She was said to have walked 'with a pretty firm step' but on ascending the steps of the scaffold she then faltered, and had to be supported by two Warders.
No feelings of compassion were witnessed among the crowds as she mounted the scaffold.
Having arrived at the top of the scaffold, the rope was adjusted and within two minutes of appearing, it was over and her body was left hanging for an hour and the crowd slowly dispersed.
The usual inquest formalities were completed and at 4 pm, her body was buried in the Prison cemetery.
Life After
Jane (Age 32 when her mother was hung)
She had married Andrew Broom in 1838 but lost her husband in 1854 age 41, then it is unclear what happened to her after that.
William (Age 31 when his mother was hung)
In 1851, he was living at the old Workhouse in Guestling with his children Fanny age 7 and George age 5, his brother Benjamin and housekeeper Hannah Willard age 23. His eldest Son James age 10, was in service for Farmer, James Rollason
At aged 36, William remarried on 14th May 1854 in Guestling to 51-year-old, Abigail Kennard, a widow, from Brede Sussex
His wife Abigail died in February 1881 and was buried on 13th February at Guestling Parish Church
by 1881, he had left agricultural work to become a roadman but returned to farm work by 1891.
He died aged 79 in May 1897 and was buried on 18 May at Guestling Parish Church
Alban (Age 24 when his mother was hung) He was working away, when the events happened, as a live-in manservant in Icklesham for a farmer John Head.
By 1851, he had returned to Guestling and was lodging with one of his work colleagues, working in the agricultural industry.
1 Dec 1857 he arrived from England, aboard the vessel, Yorktown in New York, USA to start a new life there.
He settled in Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio, USA
On 20 Jun 1861 at Camp Dennison, Ohio, he joined the military Company D. Ohio 11 infantry for the Union in the Civil War. He did 3 years, 1 day and was discharged on 21 Jun 1866
On 8 Mar 1866 in Miami, Ohio, USA he married Widow Maria Armstrong nee Green originally from Elsham, Lincolnshire, England. She had moved over to America in 1851. She had two young daughters. her husband had died of disease.
They settled in Tippecanoe, Miami, Ohio and had five children together (1 boy & 4 girls) He worked as a Teamster
In 1880 he joined the Union Volunteers, 2nd Regiment, US Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
He died at age 73 on 15 Oct 1898 and was buried at Maple Hill Cemetery, Tipp City, Miami County, Ohio
Benjamin Richard (Age 18 when his mother was hung)
He had moved in with his brother William when he was removed from his mother and was there during the 1851 census.
It is unclear what happened to him after. A few Records use the name Richard (He may have dropped his first name and place of birth to hide from his past) but I cannot confirm it is him.
Edwin John (Age 16 when his mother was hung)
In 1851, at age 18, He worked as a live-in farm servant job with Godfrey Philcox, a farmer at Coghurst House in Guestling
It's unclear what happened to him after, there is a John Geering who became a seaman from Sussex, so may have dropped his first name, like Benjamin but cannot confirm it's him.
Mary Ann (Age 13 when her mother was hung)
She was sent to a poor house in Hastings
In 1851, at age 15, she was a servant for a widow, Anna Markwick in Hastings Sussex and she remained with her until at age 27, she married 38-year-old Charles Page a Gardener, living in Ore Sussex on 11 Oct 1863 and she moved back into her childhood area.
They had 5 girls and she passed away in Feb 1929 at age 93 in Ore Sussex and is buried in the Christ Church in Ore on 16th Feb
Andrew (Age 9, when his mother was hung)
He was sent to a poor house in Hastings
In 1851 at age 11, he was in service for farmer John Cooke, living at Great Maxfield House in Guestling.
at the end of 1860, at age 21, he married 21-year-old Fanny Campany in Blean Kent. They had 7 children (4 boys and 3 girls)
He became an Able seaman in 1861 and later became a barge captain.
He was a master aboard the Mary Anne when he drowned at sea on 19th February 1882 at age 42
Peter (Age 7, when his mother was hung)
He was sent to a poor house in Hastings
In 1851, he was still at the Hastings Union workhouse
In 1858 at age 16, he joined the Merchant Navy
Then he disappears from the England Census but according to his find a grave profile he lived in Lonavla, India for some time.
In 1907 age 65, he married Spinster Emily Patton age 41 from Twerton On Avon, Somerset in Hastings Sussex.
In the 1911 census, they were living with her parents in Bath Somerset, his occupation was a retired Locomotive Foreman
on 8 Nov 1915 at age 75, he died in Weston, Bath, Somerset and was buried at Locksbrook Cemetery
Sources
General Register Office (no date) General Register Office - Online Ordering Service - Login. Available at: https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/
Bring your backstory to lifeTM (no date) Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. Available at: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
Pictures and historical info from Wikipedia https://www.wikipedia.org/
Archive, T.B.N. (no date) History’s colourful stories in black and white, Home | Search the archive | British Newspaper Archive. Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
Kentish Gazette (1849) 'The Poisonings In Sussex' 08 May pg 3
Sussex Advertiser (1849) 'Sketch of Mary Ann Gerrings life' 21 August pg 5
Brighton Gazette (1849) 'The suspected case of poisoning at Guestling' 10 May pg 6
Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser (1849) Execution of Mary Ann Geering'' 28 August pg 4
Berkshire Chronicle - (1849) 25 August 'The Guestling murders - The execution of Mary Ann Geering' pg 4
London Evening Standard (1849) 02 August 'Sussex Assizes' pg 4
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