Martha Needle

After Mabel’s death, the pleasures of marriage palled. Henry could not find work locally and had to travel to Sydney, where he would stay for several months. A newspaper later reported that Martha began to go out at night alone – and that she had become renowned locally for having ‘a flighty disposition fond of company, and with a weakness for the admiration of the sterner sex, which was invariably accorded to her’. The birth of their third child May in 1886 did little to improve their marriage. Henry became increasingly jealous and morose.

In 1889, Henry suddenly fell ill. His doctor, George Hodgson, recalled that Henry had been a robust man but was now suffering from acute vomiting. His behaviour was also noted as odd. On one visit the doctor observed that Henry had left untouched some chicken broth and jelly that Martha had served him.

Henry died on 4 October 1889, with Martha by his side. The official cause of death was ‘sub-acute hepatitis, persistent vomiting, enteric fever, and exhaustion, due to obstinacy in not taking nourishment’. Despite the mysterious nature and sudden onset of the illness, no post mortem was performed. No suspicion attached to Martha who seemed to give him devoted care.

About a year after Henry’s death, six-year-old Elsie began to fall ill. In the courtroom later her doctor [vaguely] recalled that he thought Elsie was suffering from measles; but he remembered the young child had been vomiting. The one clear memory that the doctor had was of Elsie’s ‘appealing’ mother. He told the courtroom that Martha had never appeared ‘inattentive or unkind’; nor had she ever obstructed his attendance. Elsie suffered for almost 2 months, passing away on the 9^th December 1890.

When Elsie was ill I visited frequently. The prisoner’s manner towards the child could not have been more kind and attentive… When Elsie died I saw the accused the same night. She was greatly distressed over it. (Evidence of Otto Juncken, The Queen v Martha Needle, 1894)

Only seven months after the death of her older sister, four-year-old May’s health also deteriorated. The previously healthy child began to display peculiar and worrying symptoms, the most notable was constant vomiting. The little girl died on 27 August 1891. Her death certificate listed ‘Tubercular Meningitis’ as the cause, but her doctor later testified: ‘The case attracted my attention particularly. I was always puzzled by the case. I could not arrive at a diagnosis satisfactory to myself’. Martha Needle’s care of her daughter was not questioned – in fact, she was praised:

Mrs Needle’s conduct towards May could not have been more kind than it was. She seemed to have all a motherly love and affection for her. I saw her after the child was dead. She was greatly distressed over it. (Evidence of Otto Juncken, The Queen v Martha Needle, 1894)

A new start

After May’s death Martha moved to Richmond to keep house for Otto and Louis Juncken.  She and Otto soon became engaged, but during this time Martha’s behaviour began to cause concern. She would become unresponsive or rigid for long periods: on at least one occasion she went out to ‘search for’ her dead children. Not surprisingly Louis became concerned and opposed the engagement.

The crime

On 25 April 1894 Louis fell ill with strange symptoms - vomiting, a sore mouth and gums, a sore tongue. He died on 15 May.

I remember Louis getting ill… He suffered from vomiting and sore mouth and tongue and sore gums. Mrs Needle was attending him and myself. She prepared the food and gave the medicine. (Evidence presented by Otto Juncken, The Queen v Martha Needle, 1894)

Barely one month later Otto’s remaining brother Herman also fell ill. Puzzled by Herman’s symptoms, his doctor arranged for analysis of the vomit. It revealed arsenic coloured by charcoal – similar to the constituents of a popular rat poison, ‘Rough on Rats’.  The doctor called the police.

Caught in the act!

After Herman’s recovery the police set a trap. Police hid outside the Juncken house as Herman went in to tea.  Within minutes Martha was caught ‘in the very act of offering a cup of tea containing 10 grains of arsenic.’ A box of Rough on Rats was found in the cupboard.

Louis’ body was quickly exhumed and found to contain 3.4 grains of arsenic.  Two grains were enough to kill. Police also exhumed the bodies of Henry Needle, Elsie and May Needle children.  All contained traces of arsenic.

The trial

Martha was tried in September 1894 on a charge of murdering Louis Juncken. In her defence her counsel attempted to argue that Martha’s long periods of ‘unconsciousness’ meant that she was not responsible for her actions. The murder of her children seemed especially inconsistent with her apparent behaviour as a fond mother.

I noticed she was subject to fits or faints. They would occur any time…. The fits came without warning. She would fall suddenly right down as if she were struck. She would be quite unconscious… (Evidence of Otto Juncken, The Queen v Martha Needle, 1894)

But doctors called to give evidence were reluctant to commit themselves and Justice Hodges rejected the plea of insanity, observing: ‘the law cannot wait while philosophers, physicians and scientists settle metaphysical problems. …Justice must be swift and sure’.

The final chapter

The jury found Martha Needle guilty and gave no recommendation to mercy. She was hanged at Melbourne Gaol on 22 October 1894, leaving all her belongings to Otto, who supported her to the end.