Talk:Catherine Murphy (counterfeiter)

Needs sources
No sources, unref tag added. Request for sources left on user talk page.--FloNight 13:24, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

Factual Problems
This article as currently written (14 Mar 2007) completely contradicts the information in the article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Execution_by_burning#Historical_usage In particular, in the Execution by burning article, it is specifically noted that Murphy was not actually executed by burning, but was hanged first, and then her body burnt, and that no woman had actually been burned alive for more than 50 years at the time of her death. It also notes that the bill to end executions by burning was arguably in response to the Sheriff of London's pointing out that everyone who had been present for her execution (by hanging) was technically guilty of a crime for not having carried out the proper sentence. I can't say which is actually true, but the other page notes the following page as a source: http://www.richard.clark32.btinternet.co.uk/burning.html Perhaps someone more knowledgeable on the period can provide some insight and improve the article, or at least make it less glaringly contradictory. --Kadin2048 05:29, 14 March 2007 (UTC)

I'm not knowledgeable enough on the period to say for certain which happened. I can say, however, "hanging" did not necessarily mean "hanging to death"; it could just be prolonged strangulation before death is brought about by other means. So that part doesn't really contradict it. Phillip (talk) 04:37, 8 April 2008 (UTC)


 * Wether she died from the hanging or not, this was the last time the method of burning was officially used- but if she died by the hanging, perhaps one should also write about the last woman actually executed by the fire, not just officially, but in reality? The link say that the last woman actually burned alive was 50 years before, so that would have ben in the 1730s. --85.226.235.178 (talk) 12:55, 15 April 2008 (UTC)


 * The article has now been improved. Murphy was the last to be sentenced to burning, although it seems that it was not carried out litterary, and as such, she is relevant; but one should also write an artile about the actual last woman to be burned alive (in the 1730s?) --85.226.42.85 (talk) 10:10, 7 October 2008 (UTC)


 * You can see the record of the trial at the Old Bailey Online at http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t17880910-102-off426&div=t17880910-102#highlight The actual sentence was "Death". The site also discusses the manor of execution - follow the link on "Death" in the summary.  Apparently it was customary for women who were to be "burned alive" to be strangled prior to burning.  This was often done "at the stake".  It's not clear whether they were strangled to death or simply to the point of being unconscious, which would spare them at least some of the agony of being burned.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by GeorgeIIIFan (talk • contribs) 16:56, 20 August 2009 (UTC)