Catherine Murphy (counterfeiter)
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Catherine Murphy (died March 18, 1789) was the last woman to be executed by burning in England.
She was executed at Newgate prison on March 18, 1789, for coining. Her co-defendants, including her husband, were executed at the same time by hanging, but as a woman the law provided that she should be burnt at the stake.
At that time, the practice was to hang the woman for half an hour before lighting the fire, and this was done in Catherine Murphy's case. She was brought out past the hanging bodies of eight men and made to stand on a foot high 10in square removable platform in front of the stake. She was secured to the stake with ropes and an iron ring. The noose, which was hanging from a ring on top of the stake, was put around her neck. When she finished her prayers, the platform was removed and she was left hanging. As she strangled, the hangman piled faggots of straw around the stake and after half an hour, lit them.
Burning as a method of execution was abolished the next year.
