Vera Bertha Joachim (Jail)

Vera Bertha Joachim and Mary Martin were convicted of the manslaughter of Ellen Shopland.

They performed an illegal operation on her.

Vera Joachim was sentenced to life imprisonment whilst Mary Martin, who had aided Mary Martin by giving her name to Ellen Shopland was recommended to mercy and bound over in the sum of £50. They were made to stand together during sentencing.

The court heard that Vera Joachim had numerous similar convictions and had once been convicted of manslaughter and once acquitted of murder.

Ellen Shopland had been the widow of a soldier and had lived in Harringay Road, Hornsey. she had been the mother of several legitimate children and two illegitimate children.

Vera Joachim and Mary Martin had lived in Plimsoll Road in Finsbury Park.

At the beginning of the year Ellen Shopland saw Mary Martin and asked for her assistance in securing the performance of an illegal operation and Mary Martin gave her Vera Joachim's address and Vera Joachim saw Ellen Shopland, after which Vera Joachim carried out the operation.

However, Ellen Shopland was taken ill she was taken to the North Middlesex Military Hospital at Edmonton and she died on 14 April 1921.

When they were arrested, Mary Martin denied any connection with the affair other than she sent Vera Joachim to Ellen Shopland. When Vera Joachim read the statement made by Mary Martin, she said:

Vera Joachim was born in Germany in 1850 and came to England when she was young, but was still a German subject.

She first came to the notice of the police in regard to her practices in 1894 and was charged at North London Police Court that year with causing the death of a woman, however, owing to the lack of evidence she was discharged.

However, in 1895 she was sentenced to five years' penal servitude for a similar offence at Canonbury, and shortly after her release again came under the notice of the police whilst living at Highgate.

In 1903 she was acquitted on a murder charge, but in 1904 she was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to seven years' penal servitude and released in 1908.

When the judge passed sentence on her he said she was one of the worst criminals on whom he had ever had to pass sentence, noting that she had remained a perpetual criminal in spite of the severe sentences passed upon her. He said: