Martha Needle

Martha Needle was an Australian serial killer known for poisoning her husband, three children and future brother-in-law. She was hanged on 22 October 1894 at the age of 30. Needle was convicted for the murder of Louis Juncken, brother of her fiance Otto Juncken, on 15 May 1894. Although Needle collected substantial sums of insurance money, her exact motive for murdering her family has not been determined. Several times she stated her innocence, but she was eventually hanged.

Martha Needle
Martha Needle c1880s/1890s
Born
Martha Charles

April 9, 1863
Near Morgan, South Australia
DiedOctober 22, 1894
Old Melbourne Gaol
Other namesBlack widow of Richmond
Criminal statusExecuted by hanging
Spouse(s)Henry Needle (murdered)
Children3 (all murdered)
Conviction(s)One count of murder

Early life

Needle was born Martha Charles on the 9th of April 1863 in Morgan, South Australia; her father died when she was quite young.[1][2] In 1870 her mother, Mary Charles, married Daniel Foran[3] and had two more children. They were poor and lived in a small two room house in North Adelaide. Needle claimed that she was often beaten with a stick or rope by her step mother[4] and, aged 13, she was indecently assaulted by her stepfather, Daniel Foran.[5][lower-alpha 1] Needle left home started work as a housekeeper at the age of 13,[lower-alpha 2] and married Henry Needle in 1882 at the age of 18. The marriage was happy and the couple had three children, Mabel, Elsie and May, before the family moved to the Melbourne suburb of Richmond in 1885. After the move the relationship between Needle and her husband deteriorated; Needle was an attractive woman and enjoyed the company of men, Henry Needle was a shy, jealous man who often beat her.[4][6]

The killings

On 23 February 1885, little Mabel Needle died after a short illness. Martha stated that she "seemed to fade". Martha later collected 100 pounds (2010: $40,000) life insurance on Mabel's death. Henry, who was insured for 200 pounds, died of a mysterious illness on October 4, 1889, followed by Elsie in 1890 and May later that year. Doctors were baffled. Martha spent almost all the insurance money on an elaborate family grave which she visited regularly.

Louis Juncken, a friend from Adelaide, operated a saddlery business with his brother Otto at 137 Bridge Road, Richmond and in 1891 Needle sub-let the attached house and took in lodgers. Needle began an affair with Otto in 1893 but Louis and his other brother Herman disapproved and attempted to prevent their engagement. The following year Louis became ill and died of suspected typhoid. In June 1894 Herman travelled to Melbourne from Adelaide to handle his late brother's affairs, he ate a meal prepared by Needle and suddenly became ill. He recovered but became ill again the next day after eating breakfast. Two days later Herman had fully recovered but while eating lunch, prepared by Needle, he was seized by painful violent cramps. Doctor Boyd treated Herman for suspected poisoning and took a sample of Herman's vomit and sent it to the Government laboratory for analysis. The analyst reported that the sample contained arsenic.

Arrest, trial and execution

Doctor Boyd informed the police of his suspicions and a trap was set, the police asked Herman to ask Needle to make lunch. After being served a cup of tea, Herman literally "blew the whistle", summoning detectives who arrived as Needle was struggling with Herman to upset the teacup, which was found to contain enough arsenic to kill five people.

Needle was charged with attempted murder. The body of Louis Juncken, interred in Lyndoch, South Australia was exhumed and samples sent to Melbourne. The bodies of Henry Needle and the three girls, interred in Kew, were also exhumed. All five bodies were found to contain fatal levels of arsenic and Needle was charged with the murder of Louis Juncken. The trial lasted three days; Needle pleaded not guilty, but was found guilty and sentenced to death.

During her time in gaol Needle received continued visits from her friends.[7] In her final letter to friend, Mrs Owen, she writes "Try not to grieve too much for me."[8]

She was executed at 8.00am on 22 October 1894. When asked for her last words, she replied, "I have nothing to say."[9]

During the Great Depression the Brighton City Council built bluestone walls to protect local beaches from erosion. The stones were taken from the outer walls of the Old Melbourne Gaol and included the headstones, with initials and date of execution, of all those executed and buried on the grounds. Although most were placed with the engravings facing inwards, Needle's stone was faced outwards, and the initials MN and the date are still clearly visible in the Green Point wall. Over time, sand drifts buried her headstone until its precise location was rediscovered near Wellington Street.[10]

Needle was the third of four women hanged at the Old Melbourne Gaol, where her death mask can be seen. The others were Elizabeth Scott (1863), Frances Knorr (1894) and Emma Williams (1895).

Execution of nephew

On 15 July 1920, Alexander Newland Lee, the son of Needle's elder sister Ellen, was hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the April 1 murder of his wife Muriel. Muriel had been poisoned with strychnine.

Notes
  1. Foran was charged with the offence of indecent assault on Martha Charles and the jury took 30 minutes to return a verdict of guilty. Foran was sentenced to the maximum of 2 years imprisonment on April 3rd 1876 by Mr. Justice Stow.[11]
  2. reports of Needle's age when she left home vary, however she was indecently assaulted at the age of 12 by her stepfather. At that time she was still living at home.
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References
  1. "Mrs Needle's career: Statements by acquaintances". South Australian Chronicle. Adelaide, South Australia. 23 June 1894. p. 8. Archived from the original on 10 November 2018 – via nla.gov.au.
  2. "The Richmond poisoning case - Letters of the accused". The Argus. Melbourne. 16 June 1894. p. 7. Archived from the original on 12 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018 – via nla.gov.au.
  3. "Married: Foran-Charles". The Express and Telegraph. Adelaide, South Australia. p. 2. Archived from the original on 10 November 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2018 – via nla.gov.au.
  4. "Richmond poisoning case: Mrs. Needle's life in Adelaide; Troubled with fits". The South Australian Register. 3 August 1894. p. 7. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018 – via nla.gov.au.
  5. "Law and criminal courts: Supreme Court criminal sittings; arraignments". The South Australian Register. 30 March 1876. p. 3. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018 – via nla.gov.au.
  6. "Black Widows: Six notorious female killers who turned on their loved ones". heraldsum.com.au. 25 November 2014. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  7. "State Library Victoria - Viewer". State Library Victoria. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
  8. "State Library Victoria - Viewer". State Library Victoria. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
  9. "Execution of Martha Needle". the Leader. Melbourne. 27 October 1894. p. 18. Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018 – via trove.nla.gov.au.
  10. "Martha Needle's headstone".
  11. "Law and criminal courts-Supreme Court: Criminal sittings; sentencing of prisoners". The South Australian Register. 4 April 1876. p. 3. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018 – via nla.gov.au.

General references
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