Major, Ethel Lillie (1890–1934)

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Major, Ethel Lillie (1890–1934)

English poisoner. Born 1890; hanged at Hull Jail, Dec 19, 1934; m. Arthur Major, June 1, 1918; children: Auriel (illeg.) and Lawrence (b. 1919).

Gave birth out of wedlock to daughter Auriel (c. 1914), and to avoid scandal her parents declared the child to be theirs; married Arthur Major (1918), who insisted that she tell him the name of Auriel's father, but she refused and marriage deteriorated; after husband died of strychnine poisoning (May 23-24, 1934) as did a dog to whom she had fed scraps, was tried for murder at Lincoln Assizes (Nov 1934) and found guilty.

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