Female Homicides

Abstract

Female homicides can be conveniently considered under three headings: (i) Those who kill their children, (2) those who kill adults, and (3) abortionists. The last group has not been included in the 126 cases under review, because the mental condition of the abortionists is of little interest for our present purpose. I have never known a prisoner charged with this offence raise the subject in mitigation of punishment. The 126 cases are not in any way selected, but are the total number of murder charges I have had under my care at Holloway prison during the years 1923 to 1932, excluding cases of abortion. I have selected the year 1923 because the Legislature introduced the Infanticide Act in the previous year; this Act effected certain changes in practice to which I shall refer again in some detail.