The tryal of Mary Blandy, spinster; for the murder of her father, Francis Blandy, Gent. At the assizes held at Oxford for the county of Oxford, on Saturday the 29th of February, 1752 / Before the Honourable Heneage Legge, esq; and Sir Sydney Stafford Smythe, knt., two of the barons of His Majesty's Court of exchequer. Published by permission of the judges.

  • Blandy, Mary, 1720-1752.
Date:
1752
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The tryal of Mary Blandy, spinster; for the murder of her father, Francis Blandy, Gent. At the assizes held at Oxford for the county of Oxford, on Saturday the 29th of February, 1752 / Before the Honourable Heneage Legge, esq; and Sir Sydney Stafford Smythe, knt., two of the barons of His Majesty's Court of exchequer. Published by permission of the judges. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Council. How was (he afterwards ? Gunnell. She faid, the Houfe fmelt of Phyfick, and every thing tailed of Phyfick , fhe went out, I believe into the Waih*Houfe, to reach, before lhe could finiih it. Council. Did you follow her ? Gunnell. No, I did not; but about twenty Minutes or half an Hour after that, I went to the Neceflary-Houfe and found her there vomiting and reaching, and, as fhe fatd, purging. Council. How long did ihe abide there ? Gunnell. She was there an Hour and half, during which Time I went divers times to her 5 at firft I carried her fome Surfeit-Water, fhe then defired, to have fome fair Water} the next time I went to fee how ihe did, ihe faid ihc was no better; I defired her to come in a Doors, hoping ihe would be better by the Fire ; ihe faid, ihe was not able to come in •, I faid, I would lead her in •, I did, and fat her down in a Chair by the Fire, ihe was vomiting, and reaching continually ; ihe fat there about half an Hour or fomething more, during which Time Hie grew much worfe, and I thought her to be in a Fit, or feized with Death. Council. Did you acquaint Mifs Blandy with the Illnefs and Symptoms of this poor Woman ? Gunnell. I told Mifs Blandy when I went into the Room to drefs her, about Nine o’Clock, that Dame (the Name we ufed to call her by) had been very ill that Morning that lhe had complained, that the Smell of her Mailer’s Phyfick had made her fick •, and that ihe had eat nothing, but a little of her Mailer’s Water-gruel, which he had left Jail Night, which could not hurt her. Council. What did ihe fay to that ? Gunnell. She faid, lhe was very glad, ihe was not below Stairs, for ihe ihould Imre been ihocked, to have feen her poor Dame fo ill. Council. As you have lived Servant in the Houfe, how did you obferve Mifs Blandy behave towards her Father, and in what Manner did lhe ufe to talk of him, three or four Months before his Death ? Gunnell. Sometimes ihe would talk very affe&ionately, and fometimes but middling. Council. What do you mean by middling? Gunnell. Sometimes ihe would fay, he was an old Villain, for ufmg an only Child in fuch a Manner. Council. Did ihe wiih him to live ? Gunnell. Sometimes ihe wifhed for his long Life, fometimes for his Death. Council. When ihe wiihed for his Death, in what Manner did ihe exprefs herfelf ? Gunnell. She often faid, ihe was very unkward, and that if he was dead, file would go to Scotland and live with Lady Cranfioun. Council. Did ihe ever fay, how long ihe thought her Father might live? Gunnell. Sometimes ihe would fay, for his Coriftitution he might live thefe twenty Years, fometimes fhe would lay, he looked ill and poorly. Council. Do you remember when Dr. Addington was fent for, on the Saturday ? Gunnell. I do. Council. Had Mifs Blandy ufed to go into her Father’s Room after that Time ? Gunnell. She did as often as ihe pleafed till SaW^jy-Night *, then Mr. Norton took Mifs Blandy down Stairs, and defired me not to let any Body go into the Room, except myfelf to wait on him. Council. Did ihe fome in afterwards ? Gunnell. She came into the Room on Monday-Morning, foon after Mr. Norton came in, or with him j I went in about io o’Clock again. Council. What Converiation palled, between Mifs Blandy and her Father? Gunnell. She fell down on her Knees and faid to him, Banifh me, or fend me to any remote Part of the World ; do what you pleafe, fo you forgive me; and as to Mr. Cran- ftoun, I will never fee him, fpeak to him, nor write to him more, fo long as I live, fo you will forgive me. Council. What Anfwer did he make ? Gunnell. He faid, I forgive thee, my Dear, and I hope God will forgive thee •» but thee ihould have confidered better, than to have attempted any thing againft thy Father ; thee ihould’ft have confidered, I was thy own Father. Council. What faid ihe to this ? Gunnell. She anlwered, Sir, as for your Illnefs, I am intirely innocent. I faid. Madam, I believe you muil not fay you are intirely innocent, for the Powder that was taken out of the Water-gruel, and the Paper of Powder that was taken out of the Fire, are now