Betty Eccles

Betty Eccles murdered her step-son William Eccles 13 at Bolton on 26 September 1843 who she had piosoned with arsenic.

Betty Eccles had had a number of her children die but no suspision had ever been raised in the past. On the day of William Eccles death Betty Eccles had given him some food which she claimed came fom the same plate that she had eaten and he went off to work, however, at work he became very ill and was sent home. He collapsed halfway and was helped by a paserby who took him to his home and suggested that he give him some tea and Betty Eccles said that she had just got some tea ready but the court heard that that was an unusual time to have tea ready as William Eccles was normally due home at that time. William Eccles died later that night.