The Illustrated police news 6 Aug 1925

Murder of Patrick O'Leary by his brother and sister:

ABORTIONISTS Elizabeth & Maria darbon:

Every time I come across a case, where a young woman had died due to an illegal abortion, very rarely is it a one off. As in the case off twin sisters Maria Panther and Elizabeth Bruder aged 71, both women must have a past. So, a bit of detective work was needed.

But first off the outcome of the three prisoners charged with the murder of Frances Watkinson. Tried at the Old Bailey in London, on Tuesday 22 September 1925: Both women and Edward Childs a boxer of Naseby Road, Luton, were charged with the murder of Frances Watkinson, on the coroner’s warrant, the prosecution offered no evidence on this charge and verdicts of "Not guilty" were returned. Childs was discharged.

Elizabeth Ann Bruder was found guilty of manslaughter and sentence to five years penal servitude. Maria Panther pleaded guilty to a minor offence and sentenced to two years imprisonment.

Elizabeth Ann and Maria Amelia were born on the 4^th of May 1854, at 23 King Street, Soho in London. The twin daughters of Edward and Maria Darbon. Edward Darbon a compositor (printer) the son of James a artist (colourman) married Maria the daughter of George Carter a waiter, on the 25^th of September 1853, at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, in Middlesex (London.) Elizabeth and Maria had no less than nine siblings.

Baptisms record for Maria and Elizabeth Darbon.

MARIA AMELIA DARBON:

Maria Amelia Darbon aged 18, married Alfred William Pursey a blacksmith/coach smith on the 22^nd of September 1872, at St. David’s Church, Islington. Maria had three children Edward 1873; Ellen 1875; and William in 1878. The family lived in Bride Street, Islington. By 1894, Maria an uncertificated midwife, was living at 1 Brunswick Road, Barnsbury and had in her own words attended between 600-700 births.

DEATH OF FLORENCE HELEN VIGAR:

Coroner’s inquest Friday 9^th February 1894, upon the body of Mrs. Vigar. Frank Vigar a wheelwright of 20 Bingfield Street, off the Caledonian Road, in Islington. Explained to Coroner Westcott that he had been married 11 years and had had five children, the youngest being two years old. His wife became ill on Tuesday 30^th of January, in fact she was again in the family way and about to be confined, but he never spoke to her about her condition. She slept by herself on Tuesday night and on the following morning informed him that she had had a miscarriage. He did not know that a woman had been attending his wife, but on the Monday night before her illness he saw the profile of a strange woman shadowed on the blind of her bedroom. He had taken no particular notice then because it was not uncommon for a dozen women to meet his wife in her apartment. It was also common knowledge that she wanted NO more children.

Dr. William M’Loren said that death was due to peritonitis and blood poisoning following an abortion.

Mrs. Maria Pursey, not a certificated midwife, denied that she was present on the Monday before the death, but admitted that she saw Mrs. Vigar in December 1893. She again saw Mrs. Vigar on Tuesday when the poor woman informed her that she expected a miscarriage, and she did not again see her till after the occurrence.

The jury found a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, but that there was no evidence, to show how the abortion was caused. They added that no blame or suspicion was attached to Mrs. Pursey.

DEATH OF SUSANNAH WARD:

A week after the inquest of Florence Vigar, Maria was again summoned to the inquest of Susannah Ward aged 19. In November 1893, Susannah posing as Mrs. Frank Jones rented a room from Hannah Stratton at Lichfield Grove, Cricklewood.

Frank Jones stated that he had been living at Cricklewood since November 1893 and had known Susannah for about 14 months. He said he advertised for a home and midwife and as an outcome he arranged with Mrs Pusey, of 1 Brunswick Street, Islington, to take his wife in during her confinement, for an inclusive sum of £5 5s., Susannah arrived at Brunswick Street, on Tuesday the 16^th of January, she was confined on the Monday, and on the following Sunday she went home.

Dr. Edward Arthur Burgess, of Chichelle Road, Cricklewood, explained that he made a post-mortem in conjunction with Dr. Hampden Jones of St. Mary’s hospital, but found nothing of an unusual character.

Mrs Maria Pursey, said that the baby was born died on the Monday at twelve o’clock, on the Wednesday, Susannah had spasms of the heart and Dr. MacLaurie was called, she got better and wanted to go home and when she asked Dr. MacLaurie if she could go, he said it was rather risky. However, she persisted in going.

After considerable deliberation the jury returned a verdict of “Death from natural causes.”

Maria husband Alfred William Pursey died in September 1906.

THE CASE OF SARAH ELLEN YEARSLEY 1907:

Maria Pursey: The Umpire, 30 June 1907.

Maria Amelia Pursey a 50-year-old dealer, (she would have been 53 but was charged aged 50) was tried before Justice Darling in June 1907, for using an instrument and means on Sarah Ellen Yearsley with intent to procure her miscarriage on the 20^th of April 1907.

Maria was arrested when sitting in Sadler’s Wells Theatre and denied the charge. Mrs. Yearsley the wife of a journeyman baker of Holloway, said she paid Mrs. Pursey two guineas for a certain purpose, and she never saw any “instruments.”

Inspector Neil said, the prisoner’s mother was suspected, and the prisoner herself had been under observation of the police since 1894.

Maria was found guilty of using an instrument and means to procure a miscarriage and Justice Darling sentenced her to 7 years penal servitude. Liberated on licence from Aylesbury Prison, the 17^th of January 1912. She was 5ft 5 inches with a fair complexion brown hair and eyes.

Maria married William Sargent Panther at Islington in 1922, Maria was about 68, and William about 41 years old.

Not too long after her release, Maria of 154 Barnsbury Road, Islington, died on the 23^rd of May 1927, she left her widow daughter Ellen (Eleanor) Large £323. 10s.

ELIZABETH ANN DARBON:

Elizabeth Ann Darbon married James Martin a plumber on the 29^th of June 1873, at St. David’s Church, in Islington, and had six daughters. Elizabeth Maria 1874; Anne 1875; Mary Ann Alice 1878, she married Thomas Wallwork; Florence Matilda 1881; Ada Ellen 1883 died in infancy, buried in a pauper’s grave, 22^nd May; Ada Emily 1884.

It’s unknown when she life her husband or if her husband James had left her. But in 1889 the birth of a daughter Kate Bruder Martin was registered. The father of Kate was undoubtedly Edward Bruder.