Execution of Margaret Fatbottom
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I wrote this at the request of another lady reader
Execution of Margaret Fatbottom
*
The judge looked at the frightened girl in the dock & said. “The prisoner will rise”.
Twenty year old Margaret Fatbottom stood up as did the two prison wardresses on either side of her
The jury had retired for only half an hour as the facts of the case appeared very clear to everyone
The judge turned to the jury, “Gentlemen of the jury have you arrived at a decision ?”.
The foreman rose & said “We have your honour. We find the accused Margaret Fatbottom guilty of the murder of her husband Manfred Fatbottom & also of the wilful abandonment of her infant child”.
The judge nodded & said, “Thank you Mister Foreman”
He then turned & looked at the trembling girl in the dock,“Margaret Fatbottom you have been found guilty of the brutal murder of your husband Manfred & also of callously abandoning your six month old child in a railway station. Is there anything you want to say before I pass sentence?”.
Margaret wailed “Please have mercy your honour! I don’t want to hang! Oh God I don’t want to hang!”. She desperately gripped the front of the dock with her hands as she pleaded for her life
The judge continued, “I was pleased that the jury did not include a recommendation for mercy in your case. Despite your gender & age the murder you committed was brutal in the extreme. We have heard from the police surgeon that no less than twelve stab wounds were found on your husband’s body. Even when he was dead you kept on stabbing him with a kitchen knife. The abandoning of your helpless child was also cold blooded in the extreme. You did these things so that you could be with your lover – however adultery is the very least of your sins”.
The judge reached for the back cap which was on the dias in front of him & placed it on his head. He then started to utter the words that Margaret dreaded to hear, “Margaret Fatbottom it is the sentence of this court that you be taken to the prison from whence you came & then after three Sunday’s have passed you will be taken to the place of public execution where you will be hanged by the neck until you are dead. Your body will then be interred within the prison. Remove the prisoner”
As the judge finished speaking Margaret fainted & had to be carried out of dock to the waiting cells below by the two prison matrons
**
A week later Margaret was visited in her cell by her lawyer, Silas Jackson, to update her on how her appeal against the death sentence was progressing.
As he entered the cell Silas regarded the young woman with sadness. She was very pale & her blonde curls were mostly covered by a white bob. Though she was petite the drab prison dress she had on could not conceal that she had a lovely figure. He sighed to himself as he looked at the pretty young woman before him & thought “What a waste”.
Margaret said nervously, “What news Mister Jackson?”
Silas replied, “Well Margaret I have submitted your appeal & now all we can do is wait”
He stopped speaking as a commotion could be heard from the corridor outside the cell. He looked questioningly at the prison matron who was in the cell with them & she said, “That will soon pass Mister Jackson. It sounds as if Lesley-Anne Cameron’s appeal against her death sentence has been rejected. They will be taking her to one of the death cells where they will prepare her for her execution. She will hang in front of Newgate a week from today”. The matron smiled grimly as she said the final words. She really enjoyed working with condemned prisoners
The piteous wailing, sobbing & sounds of struggle from the corridor subsided as Lesley – Anne was taken away to the death cell
Margaret’s hand was at her neck, her eyes wide with fright, as the matron explained what was going on
Silas said, “Try not to think about it Margaret. Hopefully in your case the appeal will be successful”.
On that note the lawyer left the cell leaving Margaret & the prison guard alone in the cell
Margaret looked at the matron & asked, her voice trembling, “If they do hang me will it hurt a lot?”
The guard matter of factly replied, “Well Margaret if you are lucky the fall will break your neck & you will be dead very quickly. If you are not then I’m afraid that you will slowly strangle to death”
The horrified young woman broke down sobbing hysterically – her reaction was exactly what the matron was hoping for.
She was increasingly looking forward to going home & seeing her husband. They both knew what she needed when she was guarding a condemned woman – especially a young & attractive one such as Margaret
***
Another ten days have elapsed since Silas last visited Margaret in her Newgate cell. He was dreading her reaction to the news she was about to hear. Steeling himself he followed the Prison Governor & Prison Chaplain into her cell.
As soon as Margaret saw them she leapt to her feet knowing what this must mean. She wailed, “Oh God! They have rejected my appeal haven’t they! I am to be hanged! Oh God! Oh God!”
The Governor spoke firmly but gently, “Now Margaret you are going to have to be brave”
The distraught young woman looked at Silas & he said., “I’m afraid that your appeal against the sentence of death has been rejected Margaret”
The Governor went on “Now Margaret you must try to reconcile yourself to your situation. You will now be moved to one of the execution cells next to Newgate Square. You will be given your own clothes back & you can wear them from now on if you so wish”
The Governor & the Chaplain left the cell leaving the doomed young woman, the prison matron & the lawyer
Margaret flopped down onto the bed which apart from a table & two chairs was the only furniture in the room
After half an hour during which he tried, & failed, to console the terrified young woman Silas too left the cell
Margaret was then taken from her cell & moved to a death cell which was next to the outer wall of the prison next to Newgate Square where the execution would take place. She was also given back the cream & white dress she had worn during her trial
****
It is 8 am on the 15th of August 1860 – the day set for Margaret’s hanging. There had been no need to build the gallows as they had been left in place after the execution of Lesley-Anne Cameron.
In her cell Margaret, wearing her cream & white dress, her hair tied up into a bun, & the two prison matrons who were with her can hear the sound of the large excited crowd who had already gathered to watch the hanging. They were looking forward to the second execution of a young attractive women in a week.
Margaret is petrified. Her state of mind had not been helped when she overheard two matrons in the corridor discussing the hanging of Lesley-Anne. By all accounts poor Lesley-Anne had struggled “mightily” for several minutes after the trapdoor had fallen – her kicking legs had raised her skirt & petticoats to an almost “indecent level”.
The cell door opens & two guards enter followed by the Prison Governor & a Chaplain. The Governor says, “It is time Margaret”.
As the two guards go to the trembling young woman & tie her hands behind her she wails, “Please have mercy! I don’t want to die! Oh God I don’t want to die”.
Led by the Governor the execution party leave the cell, the Chaplain bringing up the rear
As they emerge into Newgate Square a roar goes up from the crowd & as usual they start to chant “Oh my I think I’m going to die” repeatedly
The condemned young woman’s terror mounts as she sees the gallows for the first time. It looms large over her the noose dangling, swaying slightly in the breeze, from the crossbeam.
Next to it waits the hangman & his assistant
Margaret has to be helped up the scaffold steps by the prison guards. When they arrive on the platform the hangman & his assistant come forward & take over from the guards. They gently but firmly push the shivering terrified girl to the collapsible front section of the structure.
The hangman takes a black hood from his pocket & pulls it down over the prisoner’s head.
He then places the rope around her trembling neck & pulls it tight
As Margaret feels the rough hemp of the noose touch her skin her rate of breathing rapidly increases
The crowd falls silent – an expectant hush fills Newgate Square
The hangman goes to the lever at the side of the platform.
He looks at the Prison Governor who nods.
The executioner pulls the lever & the trapdoor opens with a crash
Margaret’s dress & petticoats fly up past her knees as she drops
As she feared, as with Lesley-Anne Cameron, the fall of about three feet doesn’t break her neck
The crowd roar in approval as they realise that the prisoner will be dancing on the rope for a time before death claims her
Beneath the hood Margaret’s face contorts in agony as the rope begins to slowly strangle her. Her eyes bulge & her mouth gapes open as she tries, & fails, to get some air into her lungs
Her back arches pushing her pert breasts against her tight dress
Her stocking clad legs kick & thresh wildly pushing up her dress & petticoats much to the delight of the male, & some of the female, spectators
Those closest to the gallows can see that under the tight hood the dying young woman’s tongue is beginning to protrude from her wide open mouth & press against the hood
Margaret’s agony lasts for six minutes until she sways dead on the gallows
As is customary her body will be left on the scaffold for half an hour before being removed & then buried within the precincts of Newgate prison
Execution of Margaret Fatbottom
*
The judge looked at the frightened girl in the dock & said. “The prisoner will rise”.
Twenty year old Margaret Fatbottom stood up as did the two prison wardresses on either side of her
The jury had retired for only half an hour as the facts of the case appeared very clear to everyone
The judge turned to the jury, “Gentlemen of the jury have you arrived at a decision ?”.
The foreman rose & said “We have your honour. We find the accused Margaret Fatbottom guilty of the murder of her husband Manfred Fatbottom & also of the wilful abandonment of her infant child”.
The judge nodded & said, “Thank you Mister Foreman”
He then turned & looked at the trembling girl in the dock,“Margaret Fatbottom you have been found guilty of the brutal murder of your husband Manfred & also of callously abandoning your six month old child in a railway station. Is there anything you want to say before I pass sentence?”.
Margaret wailed “Please have mercy your honour! I don’t want to hang! Oh God I don’t want to hang!”. She desperately gripped the front of the dock with her hands as she pleaded for her life
The judge continued, “I was pleased that the jury did not include a recommendation for mercy in your case. Despite your gender & age the murder you committed was brutal in the extreme. We have heard from the police surgeon that no less than twelve stab wounds were found on your husband’s body. Even when he was dead you kept on stabbing him with a kitchen knife. The abandoning of your helpless child was also cold blooded in the extreme. You did these things so that you could be with your lover – however adultery is the very least of your sins”.
The judge reached for the back cap which was on the dias in front of him & placed it on his head. He then started to utter the words that Margaret dreaded to hear, “Margaret Fatbottom it is the sentence of this court that you be taken to the prison from whence you came & then after three Sunday’s have passed you will be taken to the place of public execution where you will be hanged by the neck until you are dead. Your body will then be interred within the prison. Remove the prisoner”
As the judge finished speaking Margaret fainted & had to be carried out of dock to the waiting cells below by the two prison matrons
**
A week later Margaret was visited in her cell by her lawyer, Silas Jackson, to update her on how her appeal against the death sentence was progressing.
As he entered the cell Silas regarded the young woman with sadness. She was very pale & her blonde curls were mostly covered by a white bob. Though she was petite the drab prison dress she had on could not conceal that she had a lovely figure. He sighed to himself as he looked at the pretty young woman before him & thought “What a waste”.
Margaret said nervously, “What news Mister Jackson?”
Silas replied, “Well Margaret I have submitted your appeal & now all we can do is wait”
He stopped speaking as a commotion could be heard from the corridor outside the cell. He looked questioningly at the prison matron who was in the cell with them & she said, “That will soon pass Mister Jackson. It sounds as if Lesley-Anne Cameron’s appeal against her death sentence has been rejected. They will be taking her to one of the death cells where they will prepare her for her execution. She will hang in front of Newgate a week from today”. The matron smiled grimly as she said the final words. She really enjoyed working with condemned prisoners
The piteous wailing, sobbing & sounds of struggle from the corridor subsided as Lesley – Anne was taken away to the death cell
Margaret’s hand was at her neck, her eyes wide with fright, as the matron explained what was going on
Silas said, “Try not to think about it Margaret. Hopefully in your case the appeal will be successful”.
On that note the lawyer left the cell leaving Margaret & the prison guard alone in the cell
Margaret looked at the matron & asked, her voice trembling, “If they do hang me will it hurt a lot?”
The guard matter of factly replied, “Well Margaret if you are lucky the fall will break your neck & you will be dead very quickly. If you are not then I’m afraid that you will slowly strangle to death”
The horrified young woman broke down sobbing hysterically – her reaction was exactly what the matron was hoping for.
She was increasingly looking forward to going home & seeing her husband. They both knew what she needed when she was guarding a condemned woman – especially a young & attractive one such as Margaret
***
Another ten days have elapsed since Silas last visited Margaret in her Newgate cell. He was dreading her reaction to the news she was about to hear. Steeling himself he followed the Prison Governor & Prison Chaplain into her cell.
As soon as Margaret saw them she leapt to her feet knowing what this must mean. She wailed, “Oh God! They have rejected my appeal haven’t they! I am to be hanged! Oh God! Oh God!”
The Governor spoke firmly but gently, “Now Margaret you are going to have to be brave”
The distraught young woman looked at Silas & he said., “I’m afraid that your appeal against the sentence of death has been rejected Margaret”
The Governor went on “Now Margaret you must try to reconcile yourself to your situation. You will now be moved to one of the execution cells next to Newgate Square. You will be given your own clothes back & you can wear them from now on if you so wish”
The Governor & the Chaplain left the cell leaving the doomed young woman, the prison matron & the lawyer
Margaret flopped down onto the bed which apart from a table & two chairs was the only furniture in the room
After half an hour during which he tried, & failed, to console the terrified young woman Silas too left the cell
Margaret was then taken from her cell & moved to a death cell which was next to the outer wall of the prison next to Newgate Square where the execution would take place. She was also given back the cream & white dress she had worn during her trial
****
It is 8 am on the 15th of August 1860 – the day set for Margaret’s hanging. There had been no need to build the gallows as they had been left in place after the execution of Lesley-Anne Cameron.
In her cell Margaret, wearing her cream & white dress, her hair tied up into a bun, & the two prison matrons who were with her can hear the sound of the large excited crowd who had already gathered to watch the hanging. They were looking forward to the second execution of a young attractive women in a week.
Margaret is petrified. Her state of mind had not been helped when she overheard two matrons in the corridor discussing the hanging of Lesley-Anne. By all accounts poor Lesley-Anne had struggled “mightily” for several minutes after the trapdoor had fallen – her kicking legs had raised her skirt & petticoats to an almost “indecent level”.
The cell door opens & two guards enter followed by the Prison Governor & a Chaplain. The Governor says, “It is time Margaret”.
As the two guards go to the trembling young woman & tie her hands behind her she wails, “Please have mercy! I don’t want to die! Oh God I don’t want to die”.
Led by the Governor the execution party leave the cell, the Chaplain bringing up the rear
As they emerge into Newgate Square a roar goes up from the crowd & as usual they start to chant “Oh my I think I’m going to die” repeatedly
The condemned young woman’s terror mounts as she sees the gallows for the first time. It looms large over her the noose dangling, swaying slightly in the breeze, from the crossbeam.
Next to it waits the hangman & his assistant
Margaret has to be helped up the scaffold steps by the prison guards. When they arrive on the platform the hangman & his assistant come forward & take over from the guards. They gently but firmly push the shivering terrified girl to the collapsible front section of the structure.
The hangman takes a black hood from his pocket & pulls it down over the prisoner’s head.
He then places the rope around her trembling neck & pulls it tight
As Margaret feels the rough hemp of the noose touch her skin her rate of breathing rapidly increases
The crowd falls silent – an expectant hush fills Newgate Square
The hangman goes to the lever at the side of the platform.
He looks at the Prison Governor who nods.
The executioner pulls the lever & the trapdoor opens with a crash
Margaret’s dress & petticoats fly up past her knees as she drops
As she feared, as with Lesley-Anne Cameron, the fall of about three feet doesn’t break her neck
The crowd roar in approval as they realise that the prisoner will be dancing on the rope for a time before death claims her
Beneath the hood Margaret’s face contorts in agony as the rope begins to slowly strangle her. Her eyes bulge & her mouth gapes open as she tries, & fails, to get some air into her lungs
Her back arches pushing her pert breasts against her tight dress
Her stocking clad legs kick & thresh wildly pushing up her dress & petticoats much to the delight of the male, & some of the female, spectators
Those closest to the gallows can see that under the tight hood the dying young woman’s tongue is beginning to protrude from her wide open mouth & press against the hood
Margaret’s agony lasts for six minutes until she sways dead on the gallows
As is customary her body will be left on the scaffold for half an hour before being removed & then buried within the precincts of Newgate prison
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I love it ive been waiting for someone to post a story of victorian england hangings. My favourite hangings are those done at tyburn in a festive pyblic setting. Thank you for this story.
Can you make a list of all your stories of Victorian London hangings im having trouble finding things in this story forum?
Go to page 2 of stories section & look at Execution Tales Contents - towards the bottom. The Victorian London Hangings are listed in Parts 1 & 2. You can then use this to find them in the stories section. Hope this helps
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