Mary Ann Evards Wright, known as Ann, was born around 1820 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She was married to her first husband until his death in a railroad accident. Following his passing, Ann relocated to Pleasant Hill, Illinois, before moving to Saint Paul, Minnesota, in April 1858 at the request of her nephew, John Walker, who was ill with typhoid fever. 

In September 1858, Ann married Stanislaus Bilansky, a Polish immigrant and one of the early settlers in Saint Paul. Stanislaus was a shopkeeper and a known heavy drinker. He had three children from a previous marriage, whom Ann cared for after their marriage. The couple resided in a small cabin that also functioned as a bar and grocery store. ​

In late February 1859, Ann purchased arsenic, claiming it was intended to combat a rat infestation in their home. Shortly thereafter, Stanislaus fell ill with severe stomach pains, fever, and vomiting. Despite his deteriorating condition, no immediate medical intervention was sought, and he passed away on March 11, 1859. Initially, a coroner's jury ruled his death as natural causes. 

However, a neighbor, Lucinda Kilpatrick, later recalled Ann's purchase of arsenic and reported it to the authorities. This led to the exhumation of Stanislaus's body, where traces resembling arsenic were reportedly found. Ann was subsequently arrested on March 13, 1859, and charged with murder.

The trial commenced on May 23, 1859, with the prosecution arguing that Ann poisoned her husband to pursue a romantic relationship with her nephew, John Walker. The defense contended that the arsenic was purchased for pest control and highlighted the lack of concrete evidence linking Ann to the poisoning. Despite the defense's efforts, the jury found Ann guilty on June 3, 1859. She was sentenced to death by hanging, with the execution initially set for March 23, 1860. ​

Ann briefly escaped from jail on July 25, 1859, but was recaptured a week later. Efforts to commute her sentence, including a bill passed by the legislature, were vetoed by Governor Alexander Ramsey. On March 23, 1860, Ann was executed by hanging in Saint Paul, Minnesota, becoming the first and only woman to be executed in the state. Her final words expressed her belief in her innocence and her hope for justice in the afterlife.