Last Woman Hanged by Caroline Overington
Two husbands, four trials and one bloody execution – the terrible True Story of Louisa Collins.
In January 1889, Louisa Collins, a 41-year-old mother of ten children, became the first woman hanged at Darlinghurst Gaol and the last woman hanged in New South Wales. Both of Louisa’s husbands had died suddenly and the Crown, convinced that Louisa poisoned them with arsenic, put her on trial an extraordinary four times in order to get a conviction, to the horror of many in the legal community. Louisa protested her innocence until the end.
Louisa Collins was hanged at a time when women were in no sense equal under the law – except when it came to the gallows. They could not vote or stand for parliament – or sit on juries.
Against this background, a small group of women rose up to try to save Louisa’s life, arguing that a legal system comprised only of men – male judges, all-male jury, male prosecutor, governor and Premier – could not with any integrity hang a woman. The tenacity of these women would not save Louisa but it would ultimately carry women from their homes all the way to Parliament House.
About the Author
Caroline Overington is a bestselling Australian author and an award-winning journalist. Currently the associate editor of iconic Australian Women’s Weekly, Caroline has previously worked for the Age, the Sydney Morning Herald, and the Australian. She has written two non-fiction books and five novels, and lives in Sydney with her family, a blue dog and a lizard.
* * *
Prices are subject to change without notice. For non-U.S. readers, Kindle content availability and pricing will vary.
