Sally Salisbury - Biography - Trial and Imprisonment

Trial and Imprisonment

Salisbury was charged with violent assault and tried at the Old Bailey on 24 April 1723. Her lawyer claimed that the act had not been premeditated and that Mr. Finch's forgiveness should count in her favour. The defense also tried to argue that Sally had acted to defend her sister from Mr. Finch's dishonorable amorous intentions, rather than from jealousy. The prosecution mocked her reputation and claimed that Finch's forgiveness showed only his amiable character and offered nothing in the way of mitigation. The jury found her guilty of assaulting and wounding Finch but acquitted her of intent to murder. She was sentenced to pay a fine of 100 pounds, a year's imprisonment and to find sureties for her behaviour for two years.

Salisbury's esteemed patrons did not abandon her: she received visitors while in prison awaiting trial and the courtroom was packed with notables of London society during the trial. After she was taken to Newgate, she continued to receive visitors who brought her luxury goods and made sure that she was comfortable during her imprisonment. After serving nine months of her sentence she died of "brain fever brought on by debauch", almost certainly syphilis, and was buried in the churchyard of St. Andrew, at Holborn.