Charlotte Long - the last woman to hang for arson.

Charlotte Long became the last woman to be executed for a crime other than murder or attempted murder, when she was hanged with Thomas Gaskins at Gloucester on the 31st of August 1833 for arson, which was considered a very serious crime due to the destruction of property and the risk to life. It still carries the possibility of a "life sentence" today. She was one of five women to suffer for this offence between 1800 and 1833. Arson ceased to be a capital crime in 1837.

Charlotte Long was born Charlotte Bendall in 1799 and lived in North Nibley in Gloucestershire. In March 1819, she married John Long, and the couple had two children. John Long was convicted of theft at the Gloucester Assizes in 1829 and sentenced to be transported to Australia for seven years, leaving Charlotte alone with the children. In April of 1833 it was noted that Charlotte, by now 33 years old, was once again pregnant and obviously the father could not be her husband John. She was therefore removed from North Nibley by parish officer, Henry Excell, on the grounds that she would be a financial burden on the parish.

A woman called Betsey Burford made accusations of arson against Charlotte and these were investigated by Henry Excell. He obtained an arrest warrant for Charlotte and she was remanded to Gloucester Gaol on the 9th of August, taking her new baby to prison with her. She was charged with setting fire to hayricks belonging to Jesse Organ, Thomas Gilman and James Nicholls on the night of the 25th of July 1833. Betsey Burford was charged with aiding and abetting the same crimes but to save herself gave evidence against Charlotte. In all three cases the hayricks were only slightly damaged, the fires being quickly extinguished.

Charlotte’s baby was duly christened William and baptised at Dursley Parish Church on the 24th of August. Sadly he died four days later.

Charlotte was admitted to Gloucester Gaol on the 9th of August and was placed in the care of Mrs. Ann Linton, one of the matrons there. She confessed to Mrs. Linton that she had fired the ricks and told her that she hoped God would forgive her. She also implicated Betsey Burford in these confessions.

Charlotte came to trial at Gloucester Summer Assizes on Friday the 23rd of August 1833 before Baron Gurney. In court Betsey Burford testified that Charlotte had decided to set fire to a rick belonging to Henry Excell in revenge for removing her from North Nibley, but refrained from doing so because she would be the prime suspect. Other witnesses gave evidence of seeing a woman who looked like Charlotte hurrying away from the crime scene. Baron Gurney questioned them as to whether the woman they had seen was limping and they answered that she was not. This was important because Betsey Burford was lame and walked with a limp, whereas Charlotte did not.

She was convicted of setting fire to a hayrick belonging to Jesse Organ of North Nibley. Both Mr. Organ and the jury made a strong recommendation to mercy, but Baron Gurney rejected this. It was reported that even he got emotional as he passed sentence of death upon her. She collapsed and had to be carried from the court.

Thomas Gaskins was also convicted of a separate arson at the same Assizes. Gaskins had set fire to a hayrick belonging to his master at a farm at Deerhurst.

In the condemned cell both Charlotte and Gaskins reportedly confessed to their crimes.

It would appear that the reason set fire to the hayricks belonging to the three farmers was to divert attention away from herself when she later set fire to Mr. Excell’s rick. She continued to assert that Betsey Burford had persuaded her to commit the crime and had instructed her on how to set the fires. She also suggested that Betsey had offered her money to do so.

The chaplain of Gloucester Gaol, the Rev. Mr. Cooper, attended Charlotte and Gaskins during Friday night and Saturday morning. After she had received the sacrament the news of her son, William’s death was given Charlotte and she was reportedly relieved and looking forward to seeing him in Heaven.

They were hanged side by side at Gloucester Gaol just after 11 a.m. on Saturday the 31st of August, before a large crowd of spectators. The executions were carried out using the “New Drop” style gallows erected on the roof of the prison gatehouse. As Charlotte had not been convicted of murder she was able to be buried in the churchyard of St Martin’s Parish Church in North Nibley on the 3rd of September.

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