Last Woman Hanged in Wales: A Life Re-examined

On August 14, 1907, Leslie James became the last woman to be hanged in Wales, a fate sealed on her 40th birthday. Now, a new book by Mary Jones, "The Execution of Leslie James," re-examines the case, casting doubt on the original trial and conviction.

James was accused of smothering an infant, Treasure, as part of a "baby farming" conspiracy. However, Jones argues that James, whose real name may have been Rhoda Willis, suffered a severe concussion from a bike accident months before the incident. This injury, which required three months of hospitalization, was not presented as a factor in her defense.

The trial at Swansea Assizes lasted only one-and-a-half days, with an all-male jury convicting James in just 12 minutes. Jones contends that her barrister, appointed on the trial's morning, had insufficient time to prepare a defense, which might have included evidence that the baby was already unwell.

Jones believes James was a victim of circumstance and societal prejudice, possibly alcoholism, rather than a deliberate murderer. The book suggests that while baby Treasure died in James's care, her culpability may have been manslaughter, not murder. The intense press focus on James's appearance and composure, unusual for male defendants, also raises questions about misogyny influencing the case.