The following are extracts taken from the Northampton Mercury in 1735 appertaining to the murders.

June 30th 1735

On Friday last was committed to our gaol, Elizabeth Fawson, on a strong suspicion of poisoning her husband, Thomas Fawson, jun., of Weston and Weedon, nr. Daventry, (to whom she had been married about six weeks), by mixing a quantity of Mercury with some Boyl'd Bread and Beer, a small time after which he was taken with violent vomitting and extreme pain in his Stomach and Bowels, in which he continued and languished between two and three days and then expired.

July 14th

Elizabeth Wilkinson - Picking Pockets.
Elizabeth Fawson for poisoning her husband. Murder took place Wednesday 8th June

July 21st

On Tuesday last ended the Assizes for this county when two women received sentence of death. Elizabeth Fawson for poisoning her husband and Elizabeth Wilkinson for picking pockets. The former to be burnt.

July 26th

Friday 8th August next is fixed for the Execution of Elizabeth Wilkinson about 8 in the morning and at Noon the same day Elizabeth Fawson for poisoning her husband. Will be burnt to death at the stake near the Bowling Green on Northampton Heath. She has not yet publicly confessed the fact for which she is to die though constantly pressed thereto which is supposed to be owing to the repeated advice she receives from a person who has been offered more than once to insinuate there needs no confession but to Go alone.

August 11th

On Friday last, about three in the afternoon, pursuant to what we mentioned in our last, Elizabeth Fawson was drawn from our gaol on a sledge to the Place prepared for her execution, where she was strangled and then burnt to death in the presence of 12 or 15,000 spectators. 'Tis observable, that she continued to the last moment inflexible in her sullen temper, and had all over her face a Black Hood, which she never suffered to be removed, nor would she make the least speech to the spectators about her crime ro Repentance, which it is but too well known, may without Injustice be attributed to the frequent visits and admonitions of a near relation, only when she was lifted out of the sledge, desired several times that they would soon despatch her, and one of the attending officers, she might be quite dead before the fire was lighted. She privately confessed the fact for which she died to some Divines which attended her, adding, that no ill usage of her husband promoted her to it, but the unconquerable affection she had for a certain young man, whom she would not discover, but could by no means be brought to any other public confession, as a warning to deter others, in which private declarations she also most solemnly denied the poisoning any other person, or being false to her Husband's Bed, charges very strongly laid on her character, the which she wished and willed those she had confessed unto to vindicate her from.

The same evening was committed to our gaol, one John Brown, a private Trooper in the Right Hon. The Earl of Pembroke's Regiment of Horse, for abusing and insulting the Under Sherrif in attending the above Elizabeth Fawson to the place of Execution.

From the Gentleman's Magazine July 17th Thursday

At the Assizes in Northampton MARY FASSON was condemned to be burnt for poysoning her husband having been married but six weeks by putting white mercury into sugar sops which she gave him. He was seventeen years of age and heir to the above 1000. She 20 years of age and had been a servant. Her criminal affection for a young man occasioned this Accident.

One Wilson received sentence for robbing a farmer.

END