The media nicknamed her "Borgia." She married John Creighton and they had two children together, a daughter named Ruth and a son John Jr. Mary and her husband John had been arrested for the death of her brother, Raymond Avery, who was poisoned by a lethal dose of Arsenic. Mary had been named as a beneficiary in his insurance policy and also inherited his trust fund. Their parents died when she was a teenager. She was acquitted after a trial in Newark, New Jersey, within days of the verdict, she was arrested for the death of her father inlaw. After a trial, she again was found not guilty. After that verdict, they relocated to Long Island, New York.
In the small town of Baldwin, New York, they befriended a couple named Everett and Ada Appelgate, he was 37, she was 34. This was in the height of the Great Depression, the Applegates moved in with the Creightons to save money. They too had one daughter, Agnes was 12, by this time Mary's daughter Ruth was 14. Everett Applegate started sexually molesting Ruth, forcing her to sleep with him and his wife. Soon Ruth's mother Mary, joined into the arrangement, also the Applegates young daughter Agnes was being molested as well. In September of 1936, Ada complained of feeling ill. She went to the hospital, they could find nothing wrong and sent her home, several days later she died. They listed death as of unknown causes, speculating she died of pneumonia. But Mary's past came back to haunt her. Nassau County got word of her past relatives that died mysteriously. An investigation insued into the death of Ada, performing an autopsy. It showed she died from a massive dose of arsenic.
Mary Creighton and Everett Applegate was arrested and a trial began. She admitted to the crime, trying to put the blame on Ada's husband, Everett, who forced her to do it. Mary had went to the store and bought the rat poison. They both were found guilty of 1st degree murder with a mandatory death sentence. Appeals were filed, but all failed. Over the next few months Mary became seriously ill, probably due to hysteria, her legs appeared paralyzed, she lost alot of weight. The day of the execution she wore pink pajama's and a black kimono. The back of her head shaved. She had to be wheeled into the death chamber at Sing-Sing Prison in a wheel chair. She seemed almost in a coma-like state. Partially out of fear, partially out of gaining sympathy. She had visited with her daughter Ruth the day before, telling her to take care of her daddy. Mary was just 36, a week before she was to be 37. She was strapped into the electric chair and electrocuted. Everett was next in line, head shaved, also was electrocuted.
In the small town of Baldwin, New York, they befriended a couple named Everett and Ada Appelgate, he was 37, she was 34. This was in the height of the Great Depression, the Applegates moved in with the Creightons to save money. They too had one daughter, Agnes was 12, by this time Mary's daughter Ruth was 14. Everett Applegate started sexually molesting Ruth, forcing her to sleep with him and his wife. Soon Ruth's mother Mary, joined into the arrangement, also the Applegates young daughter Agnes was being molested as well. In September of 1936, Ada complained of feeling ill. She went to the hospital, they could find nothing wrong and sent her home, several days later she died. They listed death as of unknown causes, speculating she died of pneumonia. But Mary's past came back to haunt her. Nassau County got word of her past relatives that died mysteriously. An investigation insued into the death of Ada, performing an autopsy. It showed she died from a massive dose of arsenic.
Mary Creighton and Everett Applegate was arrested and a trial began. She admitted to the crime, trying to put the blame on Ada's husband, Everett, who forced her to do it. Mary had went to the store and bought the rat poison. They both were found guilty of 1st degree murder with a mandatory death sentence. Appeals were filed, but all failed. Over the next few months Mary became seriously ill, probably due to hysteria, her legs appeared paralyzed, she lost alot of weight. The day of the execution she wore pink pajama's and a black kimono. The back of her head shaved. She had to be wheeled into the death chamber at Sing-Sing Prison in a wheel chair. She seemed almost in a coma-like state. Partially out of fear, partially out of gaining sympathy. She had visited with her daughter Ruth the day before, telling her to take care of her daddy. Mary was just 36, a week before she was to be 37. She was strapped into the electric chair and electrocuted. Everett was next in line, head shaved, also was electrocuted.
The media nicknamed her "Borgia." She married John Creighton and they had two children together, a daughter named Ruth and a son John Jr. Mary and her husband John had been arrested for the death of her brother, Raymond Avery, who was poisoned by a lethal dose of Arsenic. Mary had been named as a beneficiary in his insurance policy and also inherited his trust fund. Their parents died when she was a teenager. She was acquitted after a trial in Newark, New Jersey, within days of the verdict, she was arrested for the death of her father inlaw. After a trial, she again was found not guilty. After that verdict, they relocated to Long Island, New York.
In the small town of Baldwin, New York, they befriended a couple named Everett and Ada Appelgate, he was 37, she was 34. This was in the height of the Great Depression, the Applegates moved in with the Creightons to save money. They too had one daughter, Agnes was 12, by this time Mary's daughter Ruth was 14. Everett Applegate started sexually molesting Ruth, forcing her to sleep with him and his wife. Soon Ruth's mother Mary, joined into the arrangement, also the Applegates young daughter Agnes was being molested as well. In September of 1936, Ada complained of feeling ill. She went to the hospital, they could find nothing wrong and sent her home, several days later she died. They listed death as of unknown causes, speculating she died of pneumonia. But Mary's past came back to haunt her. Nassau County got word of her past relatives that died mysteriously. An investigation insued into the death of Ada, performing an autopsy. It showed she died from a massive dose of arsenic.
Mary Creighton and Everett Applegate was arrested and a trial began. She admitted to the crime, trying to put the blame on Ada's husband, Everett, who forced her to do it. Mary had went to the store and bought the rat poison. They both were found guilty of 1st degree murder with a mandatory death sentence. Appeals were filed, but all failed. Over the next few months Mary became seriously ill, probably due to hysteria, her legs appeared paralyzed, she lost alot of weight. The day of the execution she wore pink pajama's and a black kimono. The back of her head shaved. She had to be wheeled into the death chamber at Sing-Sing Prison in a wheel chair. She seemed almost in a coma-like state. Partially out of fear, partially out of gaining sympathy. She had visited with her daughter Ruth the day before, telling her to take care of her daddy. Mary was just 36, a week before she was to be 37. She was strapped into the electric chair and electrocuted. Everett was next in line, head shaved, also was electrocuted.
In the small town of Baldwin, New York, they befriended a couple named Everett and Ada Appelgate, he was 37, she was 34. This was in the height of the Great Depression, the Applegates moved in with the Creightons to save money. They too had one daughter, Agnes was 12, by this time Mary's daughter Ruth was 14. Everett Applegate started sexually molesting Ruth, forcing her to sleep with him and his wife. Soon Ruth's mother Mary, joined into the arrangement, also the Applegates young daughter Agnes was being molested as well. In September of 1936, Ada complained of feeling ill. She went to the hospital, they could find nothing wrong and sent her home, several days later she died. They listed death as of unknown causes, speculating she died of pneumonia. But Mary's past came back to haunt her. Nassau County got word of her past relatives that died mysteriously. An investigation insued into the death of Ada, performing an autopsy. It showed she died from a massive dose of arsenic.
Mary Creighton and Everett Applegate was arrested and a trial began. She admitted to the crime, trying to put the blame on Ada's husband, Everett, who forced her to do it. Mary had went to the store and bought the rat poison. They both were found guilty of 1st degree murder with a mandatory death sentence. Appeals were filed, but all failed. Over the next few months Mary became seriously ill, probably due to hysteria, her legs appeared paralyzed, she lost alot of weight. The day of the execution she wore pink pajama's and a black kimono. The back of her head shaved. She had to be wheeled into the death chamber at Sing-Sing Prison in a wheel chair. She seemed almost in a coma-like state. Partially out of fear, partially out of gaining sympathy. She had visited with her daughter Ruth the day before, telling her to take care of her daddy. Mary was just 36, a week before she was to be 37. She was strapped into the electric chair and electrocuted. Everett was next in line, head shaved, also was electrocuted.
Gravesite Details
Beverly Hills Cemetery is now known as King David Cemetery, a part of Rose Hills Cemetery.
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