BIRTH(+)FACT(᙮)DEATH(-)

39th year  -  N° 89                 Friday, 29 March 2024         Antwerpen		
Bleu, Bleu, l'Amour est Bleu
BirthFactDeath (-)
Wednesday 18th of March 1789

235 years ago She Was Dead Before the Fire Was Lit



Counterfeiter Catherine Murphy born as Christian Bowman is executed by burning at the stake in Newgate Prison, London, Greater London, United Kingdom.


Murphy was the last woman to be officially burned at the stake. Murphy and her husband Hugh Murphy were executed along with seven other men who had been convicted of various offences. The eight men were executed by hanging. But as a woman the law provided that Murphy should be burnt at the stake. She was made to stand on a foot high 10-inch-square platform in front of the stake and secured to the stake with ropes and an iron ring. Murphy was reportedly tied with one rope around her neck after which the platform was removed from under her feet and 30 minutes passed before the fire was lit.