The Tragic Execution of a Victorian Murderess
Summary
Host Anthony interviews Professor Rose Wallace about the 1856 execution of Martha Brown, who was hanged for murdering her abusive husband despite evidence of self-defense. Wallace reveals that Brown’s death sentence was politically motivated to counter public outcry over the commutation of another woman’s sentence, highlighting Victorian biases against working-class women. The episode explores how community members attempted to manage domestic violence and how the case later inspired Thomas Hardy’s *Tess of the d'Urbervilles*.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The hanging of Martha Brown in 1856
Martha Brown's background and relationship with John
The night of the murder and conflicting accounts
The trial, lack of defense, and guilty verdict
New evidence of domestic abuse and community knowledge
Political context: Abolition of executions for women
Thomas Hardy's connection and final reflections
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