Vanessa Richardson

That October, it seems William was running out of money. That might be why he decided to reopen the silken bags that Mary had sewn into his mattress two years earlier. He ripped them open, only to find scrap paper and half pennies where there should have been guinea notes and gold. He felt delirious with a mix of anger and shock. She'd told them the guineas were important for the spell.

That October, it seems William was running out of money. That might be why he decided to reopen the silken bags that Mary had sewn into his mattress two years earlier. He ripped them open, only to find scrap paper and half pennies where there should have been guinea notes and gold. He felt delirious with a mix of anger and shock. She'd told them the guineas were important for the spell.

She'd promised they would give them protection. She'd sworn it. She'd lied. William decided to confront Mary immediately, but she didn't seem phased. She convinced him to return the following day for another meeting. Surprised at Mary's willingness to resolve the issue, William agreed. The next day, he set off to meet her and brought the chief constable of Leeds with him.

She'd promised they would give them protection. She'd sworn it. She'd lied. William decided to confront Mary immediately, but she didn't seem phased. She convinced him to return the following day for another meeting. Surprised at Mary's willingness to resolve the issue, William agreed. The next day, he set off to meet her and brought the chief constable of Leeds with him.

It was then that 40-year-old Mary tried one last con. She faked a vomiting fit and was subsequently taken to the local magistrate, where she announced that William was trying to poison her. By this stage, she was a well-practiced performer, but the chief constable wasn't buying her act. He took Mary into custody and ordered that her home be searched.

It was then that 40-year-old Mary tried one last con. She faked a vomiting fit and was subsequently taken to the local magistrate, where she announced that William was trying to poison her. By this stage, she was a well-practiced performer, but the chief constable wasn't buying her act. He took Mary into custody and ordered that her home be searched.

There, authorities found many of the items that the Perigos had given to Mary over the years. It was enough to support William's story, but not enough to hold up in court. So investigators got to work building a case while Mary was kept in custody. It took nearly three months, but in January of 1809, police finally charged Mary with murder.

There, authorities found many of the items that the Perigos had given to Mary over the years. It was enough to support William's story, but not enough to hold up in court. So investigators got to work building a case while Mary was kept in custody. It took nearly three months, but in January of 1809, police finally charged Mary with murder.

Her court date was set for that March, and in the interim, the story of the Yorkshire Witch started spreading through Leeds. Before long, it seemed everyone in town knew about Mary Bateman's crimes, and they all wanted to see what happened next. So on March 17th, a large crowd gathered to watch her trial. The proceedings lasted 11 hours,

Her court date was set for that March, and in the interim, the story of the Yorkshire Witch started spreading through Leeds. Before long, it seemed everyone in town knew about Mary Bateman's crimes, and they all wanted to see what happened next. So on March 17th, a large crowd gathered to watch her trial. The proceedings lasted 11 hours,

and included many witnesses who came forward to share what they knew about Mary's dealings with the Perigos. There was no question that she'd been conning the couple, but what the authorities wanted to prove was that she'd set out to kill Rebecca. Of course, there was a reasonable case for her guilt, even just circumstantially.

and included many witnesses who came forward to share what they knew about Mary's dealings with the Perigos. There was no question that she'd been conning the couple, but what the authorities wanted to prove was that she'd set out to kill Rebecca. Of course, there was a reasonable case for her guilt, even just circumstantially.

But the most damning evidence came from Dr. Chorley, who attended to William just a day after his wife had passed. He'd known immediately that William had been poisoned. Wanting to confirm his suspicions, he'd fed Mary's special honey for Rebecca to a dog. The canine vomited immediately and died four days later.

But the most damning evidence came from Dr. Chorley, who attended to William just a day after his wife had passed. He'd known immediately that William had been poisoned. Wanting to confirm his suspicions, he'd fed Mary's special honey for Rebecca to a dog. The canine vomited immediately and died four days later.

When Dr. Chorley opened the dog's body, he found a high degree of inflammation, as well as what he called a corrosive sublimate of mercury. In other words, the honey was poisoned. Still, it's likely that even without this evidence, the court had made up its mind about Mary before the trial even started.

When Dr. Chorley opened the dog's body, he found a high degree of inflammation, as well as what he called a corrosive sublimate of mercury. In other words, the honey was poisoned. Still, it's likely that even without this evidence, the court had made up its mind about Mary before the trial even started.

Female criminals were treated especially harshly in those times, and the gossip about her had already damaged her reputation beyond repair. At the end of the day, the jury announced their verdict. Mary was found guilty of murdering Rebecca with poison and sentenced to death by hanging. Just three days later, 41-year-old Mary was led to the gallows.

Female criminals were treated especially harshly in those times, and the gossip about her had already damaged her reputation beyond repair. At the end of the day, the jury announced their verdict. Mary was found guilty of murdering Rebecca with poison and sentenced to death by hanging. Just three days later, 41-year-old Mary was led to the gallows.

Thousands of people had gathered to watch her die. Some still believed she was magic and that she would vanish before the noose took hold. They were in for a less enchanting sight. When asked if she had any final words, Mary claimed she was innocent and allowed the rope to be placed around her neck. Then, in one fell swoop... Mary Bateman was dead.

Thousands of people had gathered to watch her die. Some still believed she was magic and that she would vanish before the noose took hold. They were in for a less enchanting sight. When asked if she had any final words, Mary claimed she was innocent and allowed the rope to be placed around her neck. Then, in one fell swoop... Mary Bateman was dead.