The Story Of Queen Victoria's KILLER WET NURSE!

Рет қаралды 4,790

Күн бұрын

In a chilling narrative that the ITV series chose to overlook, Nurse Mary Ann Brough committed a horrifying act, slaughtering six children, including her own son William. The case of the Esher Murderess captivated Britain and drew global attention. On the morning of June 10, 1854, Henry Woolgar stumbled upon a gruesome scene as he noticed a blood-soaked pillow hanging from an upstairs window of a cottage in Esher. Investigating further, he discovered Mary Ann Brough, disheveled, covered in blood, and with her throat slashed. As more neighbors gathered, they uncovered the lifeless bodies of Mary Ann’s children, each with their throats brutally cut.
Mary Ann, who had miraculously survived her self-inflicted wounds, confessed to systematically murdering her children with a razor. Her shocking confession and the heinous nature of the crime earned her the notorious moniker of the Esher Murderess. Once trusted as the wet nurse to the Prince of Wales, her transformation into a killer was both chilling and tragic.
Unlike infamous Victorian murderers such as Mary Ann Cotton or Amelia Dyer, Mary Ann Brough has faded into obscurity, with no biographies or TV series dedicated to her story. Yet, her crimes were some of the most horrifying of the Victorian era. Mary Ann's journey began in 1841 when she was summoned by Queen Victoria to serve as a Royal wet nurse for Bertie, the future Prince of Wales. The position was prestigious and lucrative, offering Mary Ann £1,000, a substantial sum at the time. Her appointment was likely secured due to her husband George's employment at Claremont House, a favored Royal estate.
During her tenure, Mary Ann nurtured Bertie into a healthy infant. However, Victoria, who disliked breastfeeding and suffered from post-natal depression, found her son unattractive and paid him little attention. After eight months, Mary Ann was dismissed for reasons unclear, although rumors suggested issues with drinking or disobedience. For over a decade, Mary Ann's connection to the Royal family faded until the Esher murders shocked the nation.
After her dismissal, Mary Ann settled in West Esher with her husband George and their children. She appeared to be a caring mother until tragedy struck after the birth of her seventh child, George, in 1852. Mary Ann suffered a stroke, which left her with partial paralysis, slurred speech, and severe headaches. Her mental health deteriorated further after her husband suspected her of infidelity and left her, threatening to take custody of their children.
The final straw came when her children contracted measles, and Mary Ann, exhausted and overwhelmed, reached a breaking point. On the night of June 9, 1854, she succumbed to a moment of madness. She later described the scene, recounting how she methodically killed each child with her husband’s razor. Her youngest child, George, was spared initially but eventually met the same fate as his siblings.
Mary Ann's trial in August 1854 centered on her sanity. The key question was whether she acted out of insanity or premeditated malice. The defense argued that her stroke had caused brain damage, leading to her irrational actions. Ultimately, the jury found her insane, and she was committed to an asylum for life.
The case of Mary Ann Brough, though less remembered today, remains a chilling reminder of the darker side of Victorian society, highlighting issues of mental health, familial pressure, and the tragic consequences of untreated illnes