The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-08-17 00:00:00

CHARGE GIP STARVING A CHILD.

On Thursda , at the Middlesex Sessions, the -trial was
resumed of i assess Francis rimier, ffi, an engineer, end
./eas Plustridge, for haring neglected to provide Harriet
Emma Turner, aged 8 years, adequate food and clothing,
whereby her -health war seriously injured. The
evidenoe showed that, in April, 1877, the male prisoner
was living with his wife and seven children at Bow, and
the fifth child, Harriet Emma, was the subject of the
present indictment On the 34 April, of that year, he left
his wife and children, and an arrangement was made that
they should remain in the house until such time as
provision could be made for them. Afterwards the male
prisoner cohabited with Plumridge, and they kept a
coffee-house in usson-grove. Until 1878 two of the
chidren remained in the care of •Km Hilton. The male
prisoner got into financial difficulties, and • distress
warrant having been executed the furniture was taken
away. The children were kept confined in • room, but ona
of them was released Harriet Emma was afterward
confined in a small coal-cellar beneath the staircase, and
she was immured there from 1878 until February of the
present year, with the exception of being released
ocoaaionally for necessary purposes. The cellar was
infered by rats, and the medical evidence showed that
she was frequently bitten by thorn. When Mr. Drake
made the distraint the child was found in a fearfully
emaciated condition and removed to the workousa Prom
that time she had progressed well, but had still •
difficulty In walking. It was also stated that the child
wag ap,M allay, • /ow rti•e••• "I .11 •• • *over& g.
and the oely fo7A supplied to her was the few scraps leftnby
the customers at the coffee-shop, but frequently she was
fed on bread and water only. The male prisoner was
apprehended as be was leaving Holloway Prison, where he
had been confined for debt Inquiries were made by
Inspector Buckingham, when the male prisoner alleged
that he war not the father of the child, but that she was
the daughter of a roperaaker at Bermondsey.

WIFE MURDER IN SOUTHWARK.
At the Southwark Folioe.court on Monday, Frederick
Clarke, 36, • licensed porter, was brought before Mr.
Slade charged with wilfully murdering his wife by
stab bim her in the chest with • knife. Henry Phillips,
prisoner, stepson, said on Saturday night, • little before
twelve o'clock, I went out to fetch some boar, leaving the
prisoner and my mother in the room. They had both
been drinking, and seemed all right I was away five
minutes, and on my return I heard • scream, "I have
done it, I opened the door, and mother said, " He's done
It. and prisoner said, "Go and fetch a_polie•-oonstable."
I went for one, and we went into tne room and saw
mother lymumx the floor, bleeding from her breast. She
wan d.a. The prisoner said, " I sin sorry I did it."—
Prisoner was under the influenoe of drink. Remanded.
At the Southwark Police-court on Friday Frelerick
Clarke, 36, licensed porter, was changed on remand wi•
wilfully mur lering Fanny Clarke, his wife, by stabbing
her with • knife. Mr. Charles Thompson Alexander,
M RC. S., said he was called into the house on Saturday
night last, when he found Fanny Clarke dead. He found
a wound penetrating between the second and third rib, on
the left side. He had made fp post-mortem eaaminattem
and found that the large vein Waling to the heart had,
been divided, and death was caused by hemorrhage from
the wound. He had compared the knife with the wound,
' and it conesponded exactly. The wound was nearly three
inches deep The body was well nourished, and the organs
were healthy generally. She appeared to have been
drinking. Joseph Fryer said the Prisoner was always •
steady, quiet, hardworking and sober man. He had mean '
him use the knife produced at his work. He had seen his
wife at the warehouse occasionally. On the Satuolay
afternoon in question she came and annoyed hiin, and
called witness out names, and he was compelled to send
for accost .ble to remove her. She was under the influence d drink at the Uwe and very noi y. In answer to Mr
Ody, witness said that the prisoner was compelled to Jot
away from his wife, and it interfered with his work_ She
remained about the place nearly all day annoying him and
making use of led language. Mr. Slade accordingly_ coin-
'flitted the prisoner 'for trial at the next Old Bailey
Sessions for the wilful murder of his wife.

Lord Claud Hamilton, the lately elected for Liver-
pool, as4erted durin; the contest that Lord Hannaj.
his predecessor, now Earl of Dalhousie, was a Con-
servative down ts the time he posed in that borough
se • Liberal and a Hulte Ruler, The noble earl at
once demanded •11 equitaatiost and aa apology ; gad
Lord OW uuutpiled,