Mary Cowan
Female Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Dixmont, Maine
TIME PERIOD
1884-1894
VICTIMS
6 confirmed
Mary A. Cowan, known as "The Borgia of Maine," was convicted of first-degree murder in September 1894 for the poisoning of her step-son, Willis Cowan, after a series of suspicious deaths in her family. Between 1884 and 1894, Cowan was implicated in the deaths of two husbands and four children, with the first child, Gracie, found smothered and subsequent siblings dying from unexplained stomach ailments. The incidents occurred primarily in Plymouth, Maine, and Dixmont, where Cowan lived until her arrest. Following her conviction, she was sentenced to life imprisonment at Maine State Prison, where she died on September 17, 1898, from an unspecified illness. Significant evidence included testimonies regarding her behavior and the peculiar circumstances surrounding the deaths of her children, which raised suspicions among local residents.
Mary Cowan is believed to have poisoned her children and husbands to eliminate them for financial gain or to remove obstacles in her life. Many speculate that her actions were motivated by a desire for control and a better life, as she encouraged her first husband to pursue a career in medicine while simultaneously plotting their demise. Additionally, the suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths of her children led local residents to suspect foul play, particularly regarding the unexplained nature of their illnesses.
The Borgia of Maine: The Chilling Tale of Mary Cowan
A Deadly Beginning
Mary A. Cowan, born Mary A. Knight on March 8, 1863, in Plymouth, Maine, would become infamously known as "The Borgia of Maine." Her life tells a chilling story of a woman who poisoned those closest to her, leading to her conviction as a serial killer in 1894. She was responsible for the deaths of two husbands, four children, and the attempted murder of a third husband over the course of a decade. Her saga of death and deception began in her rural family home, where she grew up with her parents, Civil War veteran Jonathan F. Knights and Apphia B. Knights (née Sidelinger).
At the age of 20, Mary married Willis W. Bean, a young farmer from nearby Dixmont. Together, they had three children: Gracie, Alice, and Mabel. Tragedy struck in 1884 when their daughter Gracie was found smothered to death. A neighbor discovered the lifeless child and when he informed Mary, she nonchalantly replied that she was aware of the death, which had occurred about half an hour earlier. Suspicion simmered in the community, but no official investigation followed. Within two years, Mary lost her other two daughters, Alice and Mabel, to mysterious stomach ailments. Again, the deaths were overlooked, and the children were buried in Plymouth cemetery.
The Pursuit of Deception
Despite these personal tragedies, Willis Bean pursued a dream of becoming a physician, a move supported by Mary. Their financial struggles, however, made it impossible to achieve this goal through legitimate means. Willis attempted to obtain a diploma from a dubious institute selling them for $25, but a new state law thwarted this plan. Undeterred, the couple traveled to Ohio, hoping to secure diplomas there. Before leaving, Willis made arrangements for a farm purchase, entrusting the mortgage to his father. Mysteriously, Willis died in Ohio on January 6, 1888, from stomach pains similar to those that had claimed his daughters. Mary returned alone to Maine, where she sold the farm for $2,000, despite the unrecorded mortgage having vanished.
Mary remarried, this time to George H. Taylor, a laborer in Dixmont. The couple moved to Lewiston, where George died in 1891 after just four days of acute stomach pain, echoing the fates of Mary's previous family members. As a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, George was supposed to have life insurance, but it was invalid due to unpaid dues. Nonetheless, the Odd Fellows collected several hundred dollars for Mary, compassionately supporting the widow they believed her to be.
The Murder of Willis Cowan
Mary's third marriage was to Elias Cowan, a widowed farmer with an eight-year-old son named Willis. Not long after their marriage, Elias's farm buildings were mysteriously set ablaze, with neighbors discovering the family's belongings neatly packed and ready for removal. Rumors circulated about Mary abusing young Willis, often punishing him harshly.
On September 14, 1894, Willis succumbed to severe stomach pains after eating green apples. A doctor assured the family he would recover, but two days later, Willis died in agony. Given Mary's history, authorities exhumed Willis's body for analysis at Bowdoin College in Brunswick. The results were damning: Willis's body contained enough arsenic to kill a full-grown ox. Mary was swiftly arrested, initially threatening legal action against those accusing her of poisoning. However, once imprisoned, she broke down in tears.
Trial and Imprisonment
Mary Cowan's trial in 1895 presented overwhelming evidence of her guilt. A neighborhood girl witnessed Mary adding white powder to Willis's medicine but was prevented from testifying by her father, who feared for her safety. The prosecution argued convincingly that the arsenic could only have been administered deliberately. The jury delivered a guilty verdict, and Mary remained impassive as her attorney, J.F. Robinson, announced plans for a retrial motion. By June, those plans were abandoned.
While incarcerated at Maine State Prison in Thomaston, Mary maintained her innocence, claiming a private detective had uncovered evidence supporting her case. She expressed a belief in her eventual release. However, on February 19, 1896, she was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Willis Cowan.
Two years later, in failing health, Mary requested a pardon from Governor Llewellyn Powers, hoping to die at home in Dixmont. Her plea was denied. Despite her illness, she gave birth in prison, but both she and the child soon passed away. Mary Cowan, forever known as "The Borgia of Maine," was initially interred in Etna before being moved to the Sawyer Cemetery in Plymouth, resting eternally among her victims.
Sources
This tale of Mary Cowan, marked by poison and betrayal, remains a haunting chapter in the annals of American crime history. Her story serves as a chilling reminder of the darkness that can lurk behind the facade of a seemingly ordinary life.
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First Child's Death
Mary Cowan's daughter Gracie is found smothered to death.
Second and Third Children's Deaths
Mary's daughters Alice and Mabel die from mysterious stomach ailments.
Husband's Mysterious Death
Mary's husband Willis Bean dies suddenly, cause determined to be stomach pain.
Third Husband's Death
Mary's second husband George Taylor dies after four days of acute stomach pain.
Willis Cowan Falls Ill
Mary's stepson Willis Cowan suffers severe stomach pains after eating.
Willis Cowan Dies
Willis Cowan dies two days after falling ill; body exhumed for investigation.
Mary Cowan Arrested
Mary Cowan is arrested for the murder of her stepson after arsenic is found.
Sentenced to Life
Mary Cowan is sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Willis Cowan.
Mary Cowan Dies
Mary Cowan dies in prison from illness, after giving birth to a child.
Mary A. Cowan, known as "The Borgia of Maine," was convicted of first-degree murder in September 1894 for the poisoning of her step-son, Willis Cowan, after a series of suspicious deaths in her family. Between 1884 and 1894, Cowan was implicated in the deaths of two husbands and four children, with the first child, Gracie, found smothered and subsequent siblings dying from unexplained stomach ailments. The incidents occurred primarily in Plymouth, Maine, and Dixmont, where Cowan lived until her arrest. Following her conviction, she was sentenced to life imprisonment at Maine State Prison, where she died on September 17, 1898, from an unspecified illness. Significant evidence included testimonies regarding her behavior and the peculiar circumstances surrounding the deaths of her children, which raised suspicions among local residents.
Mary Cowan is believed to have poisoned her children and husbands to eliminate them for financial gain or to remove obstacles in her life. Many speculate that her actions were motivated by a desire for control and a better life, as she encouraged her first husband to pursue a career in medicine while simultaneously plotting their demise. Additionally, the suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths of her children led local residents to suspect foul play, particularly regarding the unexplained nature of their illnesses.
The Borgia of Maine: The Chilling Tale of Mary Cowan
A Deadly Beginning
Mary A. Cowan, born Mary A. Knight on March 8, 1863, in Plymouth, Maine, would become infamously known as "The Borgia of Maine." Her life tells a chilling story of a woman who poisoned those closest to her, leading to her conviction as a serial killer in 1894. She was responsible for the deaths of two husbands, four children, and the attempted murder of a third husband over the course of a decade. Her saga of death and deception began in her rural family home, where she grew up with her parents, Civil War veteran Jonathan F. Knights and Apphia B. Knights (née Sidelinger).
At the age of 20, Mary married Willis W. Bean, a young farmer from nearby Dixmont. Together, they had three children: Gracie, Alice, and Mabel. Tragedy struck in 1884 when their daughter Gracie was found smothered to death. A neighbor discovered the lifeless child and when he informed Mary, she nonchalantly replied that she was aware of the death, which had occurred about half an hour earlier. Suspicion simmered in the community, but no official investigation followed. Within two years, Mary lost her other two daughters, Alice and Mabel, to mysterious stomach ailments. Again, the deaths were overlooked, and the children were buried in Plymouth cemetery.
The Pursuit of Deception
Despite these personal tragedies, Willis Bean pursued a dream of becoming a physician, a move supported by Mary. Their financial struggles, however, made it impossible to achieve this goal through legitimate means. Willis attempted to obtain a diploma from a dubious institute selling them for $25, but a new state law thwarted this plan. Undeterred, the couple traveled to Ohio, hoping to secure diplomas there. Before leaving, Willis made arrangements for a farm purchase, entrusting the mortgage to his father. Mysteriously, Willis died in Ohio on January 6, 1888, from stomach pains similar to those that had claimed his daughters. Mary returned alone to Maine, where she sold the farm for $2,000, despite the unrecorded mortgage having vanished.
Mary remarried, this time to George H. Taylor, a laborer in Dixmont. The couple moved to Lewiston, where George died in 1891 after just four days of acute stomach pain, echoing the fates of Mary's previous family members. As a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, George was supposed to have life insurance, but it was invalid due to unpaid dues. Nonetheless, the Odd Fellows collected several hundred dollars for Mary, compassionately supporting the widow they believed her to be.
The Murder of Willis Cowan
Mary's third marriage was to Elias Cowan, a widowed farmer with an eight-year-old son named Willis. Not long after their marriage, Elias's farm buildings were mysteriously set ablaze, with neighbors discovering the family's belongings neatly packed and ready for removal. Rumors circulated about Mary abusing young Willis, often punishing him harshly.
On September 14, 1894, Willis succumbed to severe stomach pains after eating green apples. A doctor assured the family he would recover, but two days later, Willis died in agony. Given Mary's history, authorities exhumed Willis's body for analysis at Bowdoin College in Brunswick. The results were damning: Willis's body contained enough arsenic to kill a full-grown ox. Mary was swiftly arrested, initially threatening legal action against those accusing her of poisoning. However, once imprisoned, she broke down in tears.
Trial and Imprisonment
Mary Cowan's trial in 1895 presented overwhelming evidence of her guilt. A neighborhood girl witnessed Mary adding white powder to Willis's medicine but was prevented from testifying by her father, who feared for her safety. The prosecution argued convincingly that the arsenic could only have been administered deliberately. The jury delivered a guilty verdict, and Mary remained impassive as her attorney, J.F. Robinson, announced plans for a retrial motion. By June, those plans were abandoned.
While incarcerated at Maine State Prison in Thomaston, Mary maintained her innocence, claiming a private detective had uncovered evidence supporting her case. She expressed a belief in her eventual release. However, on February 19, 1896, she was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Willis Cowan.
Two years later, in failing health, Mary requested a pardon from Governor Llewellyn Powers, hoping to die at home in Dixmont. Her plea was denied. Despite her illness, she gave birth in prison, but both she and the child soon passed away. Mary Cowan, forever known as "The Borgia of Maine," was initially interred in Etna before being moved to the Sawyer Cemetery in Plymouth, resting eternally among her victims.
Sources
This tale of Mary Cowan, marked by poison and betrayal, remains a haunting chapter in the annals of American crime history. Her story serves as a chilling reminder of the darkness that can lurk behind the facade of a seemingly ordinary life.
No Recent News
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No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
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First Child's Death
Mary Cowan's daughter Gracie is found smothered to death.
Second and Third Children's Deaths
Mary's daughters Alice and Mabel die from mysterious stomach ailments.
Husband's Mysterious Death
Mary's husband Willis Bean dies suddenly, cause determined to be stomach pain.
Third Husband's Death
Mary's second husband George Taylor dies after four days of acute stomach pain.
Willis Cowan Falls Ill
Mary's stepson Willis Cowan suffers severe stomach pains after eating.
Willis Cowan Dies
Willis Cowan dies two days after falling ill; body exhumed for investigation.
Mary Cowan Arrested
Mary Cowan is arrested for the murder of her stepson after arsenic is found.
Sentenced to Life
Mary Cowan is sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Willis Cowan.
Mary Cowan Dies
Mary Cowan dies in prison from illness, after giving birth to a child.