Lanford didn’t have its own jail but there was one ten miles away that housed prisoners and as such, the cells in the courthouse were only for temporary use, to house prisoners who were on trial, or allow a rowdy drunk to sleep off his intoxication. The guard who protected both buildings overnight would keep an eye on any prisoners housed there. The closest jail for female prisoners was in London, although it was rare to have a woman charged with any serious crime. Nathaniel wasn’t going to transfer her to the main prison while she waited trial however, because he didn’t want anyone to let her know that the offences she was charged with, were weren’t likely to result in a death sentence. Perhaps it wasn’t ethical of him but considering what she had done to those children, he did consider transportation to be a just punishment. Damaris agreed with him and was happy to leave Mrs Murray here until she rotted.
