Dyson, Esther

Became pregnant out of wedlock at a time when having an illegitmate child was a very great stigma. She constantly denied being pregnant, but in September 1830 evidence surfaced that she had indeed borne a child and killed it. Confronted with the evidence of the baby's body, she admitted it was hers but insisted that the baby's head had not been cut off but instead had been accidently pulled off when the baby was emerging feet-first and she pulled on its feet to get it out. She was tried and found guilty of willful murder and jailed for an unknown period.