Florence Maybrick: Death Sentence Commuted

Trial began with the Crown's Opening Statement presented by lead counsel John Addison. The case was finished in seven days. Even now, more than 100 years later, it is shocking to comprehend that Florie's jury was never told about the extent of Maybrick's addiction to arsenic and strychnine. Even so, they knew that he had taken "the powder" and his chemist told the court and jury about Maybrick's medicine.

Almost worse than this omission, however, was a serious mistake Sir Charles made at the end of the proceedings. Instead of controlling his client - and the trial - he allowed Florence to make a statement to the court. Trying to explain that she used the flypaper to make a cosmetic concoction, Florence pleaded her innocence to the jury. But since this was the first time Florie made the statement during the trial proceedings, her efforts predictably backfired. Her lawyer should have known better.

Trial judges in British courts are allowed to comment on the evidence. This is a procedure that ought to be - and usually is - handled with great care. But Justice Stephen, who abhored Florie's affair with Brierly - and bluntly said so - told the jury Florie's statement was a lie.

The judge took two of the seven trial days to summarize the case against Florence. Many of his facts were completely wrong. His bias was clear. Before Sir Charles allowed Florence to make her statement, most trial observers thought the verdict would be "not guilty." After the statement, and the judge's comments, it took the jury 35 minutes to find Florence Maybrick guilty of capital murder.