Professor Wilson states in a Newspaper article, dated The Mail, 5th of February 2012. “Mary Ann Cotton’s choice of

poison was arsenic.”

The Accurate Facts are: A search of Mary Ann Cotton’s house on the 18th of July 1872 produced no evidence to confirm she had any in her possession. All of the kitchen’s utensils and dishes, pots and pan’s were thoroughly analysed, according to the police and no traces of  arsenic were found in any of the items. Professor Scattergood said in his evidence that if such items were used to contain  arsenic, then washing of the utensils would not satisfactorily remove its presence. His words if used as a measure of  competence, appear to support Mary Ann’s case. Could she use the arsenic in her utensils such as a teapot or cup and  thoroughly wash away those traces, quite clearly Scattergood the prosecution expert witness, inadvertently suggested that it was totally impossible! The fact remains That Mary Ann Cotton was never observed by law to actually administer arsenic to any person, which would cause Their deaths. This is a fact, and indeed the Public records for that case, quite clearly do not record any entry stating that she was observed purchasing arsenic!