Mary Ann Brough

Two men, Mager and Peasley, were walking past the Brough home in Esher, on the morning of Saturday 10th June 1854, when they were alarmed to see a bloodsoaked pillow on a window-sill. Neighbours were alerted and they entered the house to investigate. Mary Brough, forty-three years old and a former wet-nurse to the Prince of Wales, was discovered with a throat wound. Six of her seven children were found in the house with their throats cut. These were eleven-year-old Georgiana, eight-year-old William, seven-year-old Cary, Harriet and Henry, four-year-old twins and two-year-old George.

Mary's husband, also George, was a servant in the royal household, and he and Mary had been married for twenty years. Their years together had been turbulent and George suspected that his wife was being unfaithful to him. He had grounds for his suspicions, as on Monday 29th May, she was seen leaving a tavern in London with a man before they went together to a "questionable house". The following day George left their home and told Mary that he would be taking legal action to have the children taken from her custody.

Mary Ann Brough recovered from her injuries and was charged with murder. She appeared at Surrey Assizes on 8th August. Despite a biased summing-up by the judge the defence of insanity was accepted by the jury and they returned a verdict of not guilty on the grounds of insanity. She was ordered to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure.

Murder-uk.com