Serial killer souvenir sold at auction in Salisbury

Whilst the UK's first female serial killer is usually listed as the ‘Dark Angel’, Mary Ann Cotton, it is likely that Sarah Dazley preceded her by some 30 years. However, she was never formally tried for the murder of her first husband and young son (Simeon and Jonah Mead).

Works of Art specialist at Woolley and Wallis, Mark Yuan-Richards, said:

“Hers is a fascinating story. Sarah Dazley was promiscuous and neither of her marriages were happy ones. When William Dazley fell ill and died after a blazing row with his wife village gossip suggested that she had murdered him, despite his death being officially attributed to an infection. Eventually a new inquest had to be opened, Dazley was exhumed and levels of white arsenic were found in his body.”

The findings meant that the bodies of Simeon and Jonah Mead were also exhumed. Traces of arsenic were also found in the body of little Jonah, but the evidence for Simeon was inconclusive.

The decision was taken not to add the charges to the existing investigation and Sarah Dazley was hanged for the single murder, despite near certainty that it was not the first she had committed.

Mr Yuan-Richards continued:

“Executions in early Victorian society were big events which could attract huge crowds. Dazley’s (on 5 August 1843) was no exception, especially with the notorious William Calcraft as her executioner. The carved bone fob seal or ornament that featured in our auction was probably sold on the day of her execution, possibly to a gentleman who was perhaps involved in the investigation or maybe knew Dazley or her victims in some way.”

The seal, which is barely an inch high, is carved with the date and details of Dazley’s execution and with the legend ‘CP Mak’r’. The mirrored initials ‘TIB’ probably relate to the original purchaser of the trinket. Consigned from a private collection, the seal carried a pre-sale estimate of £200-300, but soared above that to reach a hammer price of £1,800 (£2,250 including buyer’s premium).