The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-07-25 00:00:00

A SHOCKING STORY.

At an inquest held on Friday last, at Mile-end,
London, on the body of a child thirteen month,. old,
which had been found dead ia its father's house, the
mother, Caroline Albrecht, a German, but long mident
in Engllnd. and the wife of a master baker, made the
following extraordinary statement :
lam the mother of the child. She was sickly from her
birth. When *he wat seven eeks Mil I went ex ay to prison
for throwing a knife and accidentally cutting a bole in may
husband's 'melt. I. I took the child with me tool we
remained in tnison twenty-one days. The rent of my
failings is drink ; I take to drink when my hudound mitt sin.
The doctor saw the child every day when we were in prison.
I have had thirteen children: nine veto Torn alive, root
three of them are now living. I am a married woman, but
r. y husband tore up the certificate. Ile has torn up the
hospital papers which I hod to show that I took this child to
the hotpital. Ott Thursday week I was union .py. I lied on
altercation with my husband, and he sold to me, " 'You moot
not show 300 r face heie any more." lie heat me on the
hack of the head. All that arose about hie stopping two I
hours longer than he had promised. I took the children I
out, the whole three of them, and gave them their dinner. I
went into so many pub:lc-homes that I don't know whet., I
went, I was so unhappy. I pledged aokirt to get money, but I
only spent ninepence on drink, furl talked more than i drank.
At half-past eleven o'clock I left the putdc house and went
and net on the doorstep id my hueband's ahop. I knocked,
and his baker said, " All right." I waited Oil four o'clock
In the two ning. I thonght my hu-banil or his baker would
open the door for 11A. and I waited and waited. At four
o'clock any husband came out, but be obi not speak to nit
UI a policeman came up. I was then in by some ,nie into
the shop-pallour, and I laid myself down on the *of. At
half-past sis I a.•tap, end I was led home to soy bu-band's
, lodgings In New-etreet. twos,lndeed, drunk. The children
I were not dnmik. for I never give them beer. When I got
home I went to bet with the chiP I, but not in the umal way,
I got In at the foot of the bed and DOI at the shin. Later In,
the morning I found the child dead at the foot of the bed.
I The legs were drawn up and the hands were clenched.
The Coroner baid that the mother's own statement
made the case very serious indeed. The question
wow. whether it would not turn out to be one of
[ manslaughter.
Mr. John Jacob Albrecht woo sent for by the
Coroner, and he appeared much surprised when his
' wife's dejewition WAN read to him, lie denied having
„„A
stIAY to her that she sheuid never re-enter the house.

He said that the children used to be locked up in a
room all day, and that they bad been stripped of their
clothes, which bad been disisistal of for drink, lie
would not say anything against his wife, for if he did
so he might make a Bible of his miseries. Ile had
been out if seven shops through her, and she had sold
even the bedclothes for liquor.
Some other evidence was given, on hearing which
the Coroner said he %VW, afraid it would be useless to
send the motlur for trial ; but, however the case plight
be legal y, there won no doubt that the mother was
morally answerable for the child's death.
Some of the j,triv wished to beau; in a verdict of
manslanghter, but ullima,ely a verdict was returned,
"That the deceased was found dead from the mortal
elects of suthication, through bring overlaid at night
by the mother, and the jury desire to strongly censure
the said mother for Pier conduct.

The lvisband of Mre. Albrecht asked the Coroner if
he was bound to support bid wife, as ohs was utterly
ruining the children and the family.
The Coroner said he might let her go to the parish
and pay for her maintenance.