Introduction: A Chilling Chapter in Australian Crime
Martha Rendell’s name is etched into history as the last woman executed in Western Australia. Her crimes—poisoning three stepchildren with hydrochloric acid—shocked the nation and exposed a grim tale of cruelty hidden behind closed doors.
Early Life: A Troubled Path to Infamy
Born in 1871 in Adelaide, Martha Rendell’s life was marked by instability. After fleeing an abusive stepfather at 16, she worked as a domestic servant and barmaid. By 1906, she became entangled with Thomas Morris, a married railway carpenter, sparking a scandal that would end in tragedy.
The Crimes: A Stepfamily in Peril
In 1907, Martha manipulated her way into Thomas Morris’s home, posing as his wife. His five children—Olive, Annie, Arthur, William, and George—quickly became targets of her rage.
A Deadly “Remedy”
Martha disguised hydrochloric acid as medicine, painting the children’s throats under the guise of treating diphtheria. Neighbors heard agonizing screams as the corrosive acid burned their flesh.
Three Victims
- Annie (1907): Died after weeks of torture.
- Olive (1907): Succumbed to the same “treatment.”
- Arthur (1908): Cried “Murder! Police save me!” before his death.
George’s Escape
In 1909, 18-year-old George fled to his biological mother, Sarah, revealing Martha’s crimes. His testimony prompted Detective Inspector Harry Mann to exhume the children’s bodies.
Gruesome Discovery
Autopsies revealed hydrochloric acid burns. Martha had poisoned their drinks and throat “medicine,” masquerading it as Dr. Cuthbert’s prescription.
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The Trial (1909)
Despite Martha’s claims of innocence, the evidence proved overwhelming. Thomas Morris, deemed a “devoted fool,” was acquitted.
Final Words
Sentenced to hang, Martha declared, “I am completely innocent!” On October 6, 1909, she became the last woman executed in Western Australia.
Legacy: A Dark Stain on History
Martha Rendell’s case remains a haunting example of familial betrayal. Her use of hydrochloric acid—a household cleaner—as a murder weapon underscored her calculated cruelty. Today, she lies in an unmarked grave, a symbol of justice served, but lives irreparably shattered.
