Geordie Justice (old executions from around the North East).

 On 1st August 1763 Margaret Middleton was hanged at Durham Prison for the murder of a girl. Margaret was employed by the City Of Durham to transport and accompany a child from poverty to Northallerton. She was to stay a couple of days until the child was settled with a family and then return.  Margaret received the money before setting off for the journey, sadly a few miles out of the city the child was drowned in a streamlet called The Browney near St Oswald's Church. This occurence was not unusual as City officials often paid people to accompany minors to foster families. However, often it was deemed a better idea by the person being paid, to get rid of the child and go and spend the money. The girl's body was found and officials had Margaret arrested.

 May 3rd 1758 Margaret Dryden was hanged for the murder of her own child. On the 1st Feb 1758 a female child's body was found on a midden in Berwick. Neighbours grew suspicious of Margaret stating that she had been pregnant but suddenly wasn't and returned with no baby. Authorities had midwives examine Margaret and they confirmed there were some blood stained clothes hidden. The midwives also confirmed that Margaret had recently given birth and Margaret was arrested.  The child's body was taken to surgeons to examine closely on the cause of death. Surgeons concluded that as the child's lungs floated in water, the likelihood was the child was born alive. The cause of death was the child's throat being cut by a large rough bladed knife before she was thrown into the water still alive.  Margaret was tried and pleaded not guilty. However a large knife was found in her house. She was convicted and sentanced to hang in Berwick on May 3rd.