Margaret Waters
Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox serial killer Margaret Waters (1835–1870), otherwise known as Willis,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> was an English murderer hanged by executioner William Calcraft on 11 October 1870 at Horsemonger Lane Gaol (also known as Surrey County Gaol) in London.
Waters was born in 1835 and lived in Brixton.<ref name="sm"> Template:Cite book</ref> She was known for baby farming, the practice of taking in other women's children for money, which often resulted in infanticide.
Waters drugged and starved the infants in her care and is believed to have killed at least 19 children.<ref name="sm" /> Charged with five counts of wilful murder as well as neglect and conspiracy, Waters was convicted of murdering an infant named John Walter Cowen. Her sister, Sarah Ellis, was convicted in the same case for obtaining money under false pretences and sentenced to eighteen months' hard labour.
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References
- 1835 births
- 1870 deaths
- 19th-century executions by England and Wales
- British people executed for murder
- English murderers of children
- English people convicted of murder
- Executed English women
- Executed people from London
- Infanticide
- Child murder in the United Kingdom
- People convicted of murder by England and Wales
- People from Brixton
- Executed suspected serial killers