The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-07-04 00:00:00

KB& ABNEIT CHARGED AB AN

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THU NACIIIIIIIATtIe 1101111ATION.

The Borough Police-court warn cr mrded on Tuesday
morning, it having become known that the girl Rebecca
Legg would be brought before the Borough KIWI'
testes. In addition to the girl Lea, who, it may be
mentigand. looked very 111, and who is charged with
the wilful murder of the child, Mary Arnett was
charged with being an accessory after the fact. The
magistrates on the Bench were the Mayor (A. Bison,
Esq.), G. Came, Esq., G. J. G. Gregory, Egg., Dr.
Aldridge, and .1. Tudor, Bin.
Mr. Weston, who appeared for the prosecution. said
he Intended to ask for an adjournment, in order to
complete the evidence. He intended calling Sergeant
Mitchell, who was present at the inquest, and then
ask for an adjournment.
Howard Bowen watched the case for Mr.

Howard. -
Sergeant Mitchell said: I was meant at the
Inquest held on the body of the child 011 Thursday,
the 150. A warrant for oommitu;ot of Rebecca
Lags was Issued; but prisoner was too ill to be
removed, and a) it vu not executed. She has been
In my custody ever since aod DOW.
Mr. West then applied for an adjournment.
The cue sgainst Mary Arnett was then pf.,ceeded

wfth.
Mrs. Miles said: I live in Southstrest. Our
boom adjoins that of Arnett', end has • common
yard between them. Lest Monday week I was in ini
washhotese shout 10 minutes to it Ann Rawls w.s
with me at the time. As I stood In the washhouee I
boned • baby cry. The sound male from the upstair
window of Arnett's house. It was the cry of • new-
born baby. Ima the mother of • family. I heard it
cry newel times. I called the attention of Rawles to it,
sod fetched Mrs. Harding, my lodger,_ to beer it. She
also mass into the wash-home. The crying was
repeated whilst Mrs. Harding was there. We all then
went into the boots, and how long the crying continued
altar that I doe's know. From the first time I beard
the baby cry to the last time alter I fetched Mrs.
Medial was about two or three minutes. I was in
she hews about • quarter of an hour before I went
into the wash house swain with Rawls.. In the yard
wore two wster-tops, one belonging to Arnett's an i
one to myself. Arnett's water-tap was close by the
door. Shortly after we returned to the wash-house I
bawd some water drawing, and looked out and
sew a bucket under the tap and • band at the tap.
The hand had • woman's dress alone. When the
water *reed running the bucket was taken away, and
I beard someone go op Arnett'e stair., and then I
heard someone scrubbing the floor. It sounded
like an upgair fi ,or. The scrubbing was going
on at one o'clock when I went tt dinner.
I heard the scrubbing from about • quarter pest
twelve to one. Just before two I saw Mrs. Arnett at
one of the upstate windows. Between three sod four
I saw Mrs. Arnett in her wash-houte, and spoke to
bor. She asked me to give her some hot water when
I had done washing, and I told bar I would if I had
any to spare. I then said to her "Bey has soon got
ever her job." Mrs. Arnett replied "What job? and
I wad " Her baby." Mrs. Arnett said" Her baby?
have not seen • baby to-day'" and I said "Well, I
beard • baby ay." Mrs. Arnett said "Oh, Mrs.
Mike, you don't mean to my you believe what people
say? and I said "Oh, Mrs. Arnett, you don't mean
to my you base shut your eyes to it? I know what
the people have said, and I have no,iced it since last
December." Mrs Arnett replied " Well, there hasn't
beam • baby in this house to day." I sold " Well, I
beard • baby • we all sto id in that place [meaning the
wash-boom] Ltd heard a baby cry." Sire. Arnett
again denied it. She said she had not roe, • baby.
I said " Well, I heard • baby cry upstairs, an very
strongly tot.' I then left her in her wa.b-house.
Mr. Weston: I take it that if I prove that the
child was found in the girl's bedroom that will be mai.
Meat for • remand.
Mr. F.. J. Day: I was called to the house of Arnett
last Monday week, about nine o'clock in the evening,
to visit the prisoner, Rebecca Legg. I found her in
bed in a very prostrate condition. I examined her,
and found she hal recently been delivered of a child.
I sabsequently found tbe body of • newly-born female
*had concealed between the mattress of the bed. It
was wrapped up in a pair of drawers, and tied with
the atria's, and pinned. I took the body, and after-
wards gave it to Swat. Mitchell. Mrs. Arnett knew
that I had found the child. High words took pace
between Mrs. Arnett and Mrs. Len (the mother of
the prisoner Legg), and I ordered Mrs. Legg to leave
the house. Subs-quently I found blood marks upon
the fi or, which appeared to have been washed up.
These marks were in the room which Leirg occupied.
Mr. Weston: That is all I propose to take to-day;
and, U it is convenient for you, I will apply for a
remand until Monday next.
The Mayor said the cam would be remanded until
Monday, at le.
The Magistrates' Clerk (Mr. G. Symonds) : You
are remanded on • charge of "Wilful Murder :" and
you. Mrs. Arnett, of being an acomaciry eter the fact
—that is, that you assisted her afterwards.
A too t attempt at applause was immediately lop.