Full Particulars of the Murder of Mary White at Woodford, in Essex. Coroner's Inquest, Mary Crawley Murdered by her Husband

Crime broadside printed with an account of the murder of Mary White, a 72 year old housekeeper murdered at Chingford Hatch and the coroner's inquest into the death of Mary Crawley murdered by her husband Michael in Stratford after a dispute concerning money. Mary White was found lying in a pool of blood at her home at Old Farm, Friday Hill. Her throat had been cut and cash, watches and jewellery stolen. The murderer Jonathan Gaydon fled to Australia but gave himself up in 1879 when he became destitute. Although found guilty of the murder at his trial Gaydon avoided the death penalty. Michael Crawley (aged 62) was found guilty of the murder of his wife at his trial in 1857 and executed on 23rd July.

Broadsides recounting particularly gruesome and scandalous crimes and murders were mass printed and cheaply sold to newshungry Londoners. Primarily published by a small number of printers many of whom, such as Thomas Birt, James Catnach and James Pitts were based around the Seven Dials area of London the spelling and grammar was often poor and the details not always accurate.