The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1875-05-18 00:00:00

TILE CASE OF MARY ANN COWARD.
• TICIUUHLE STORY.

The case of Mary Ann Coward, who is under sentence
of death for the murder of her infant child, has excited
great interest, and efforts are being made to obtain for
the unhappy woman a reprieve. The Daily Telegraph
contains a long letter, nigned "A Barrister," which is
printed in lade type, and professes to lay lief ore the
public the woman s gory in the wonin which he thinks
she would tell it in herself, if she were able to do so. "It
is," be says " a net' of the kind that is not half no
strange as fact. The real facts of the case—and the free-
masonry of the bar allowed me to ascertain them—are too
horrible to he more than even hinted at. Indeed, I have
suggested a great deal that I dare not put in precise
phrase." Father was a bricklayer and mason, and there
used to be seven of us in family—father, mother, three
boys, and two girls. I was the eldest girl, and there was
always a deal of trouble about me. Neighbours used to
say I was half-witted, and called we a natural. Mother
itied when I was a child. I don't remember when; but
it aOA a long time ago. Brothers are all out at work
When
emigrated arol went to Australia. Sister married. When
she married there was only father and me. Father used
to be very hard to me. I wasn't quick, and he used to
say I was an idle hussy, and to beat use dreadfully. I had
to keep house for him, and to find my own clothes. It
was dreadful work, and I don't know I did it. Sometimes
I used to beg and sell matches, Anil sometimes I used to
get • job and make • shilling. When I made any money
father used to take it, and I was no better than a bundle
of rep, and se starved that the neighbours used to give
me • bit to eat. It wasn't so bail if father had been kind.
But he was dreadfully cruel.
I know I went wrung, and I was a fool to do it. I was
very hungry, and I was standingby the Nag's Head trying
to beg a penny, and a gentleman came up and spoke to
me. Ile was quite a gentleman, and had a beautiful
silver watch, and was smoking a cigar. Ile gave me
something to eat, for I was dead faint and hungry, and
then he gave me some broody and water. Of course he
got the latter of me and a hen I got home father was in,
and he called me all the names he could lay his tongue to,
and beat me its:agility. I new the gentleman again once
or twice. Ile used to be outside the Nag's Head at nights,
and I used to meet him, and I was very glad to do so, for
it MOO always a *haling or two in may pocket. When I
left him. I alwayn mini to take something home for father,
Perhaps it was • lit of steak, or perhaps it was • smarten.
Father used to nay, "You haven t made this out charing,
You've been like all the rest of 'em. Don't let nie catch
you at it." It used to go on in this way, till at last I found
I was wrong, and then I spoke to the gentleman and asked
hint what I was to do, He swore at me just like father,
and gave me half-a-crown. Father very soon found out
what was the matter, and beat me until all the neighbours
came ilk and cried "Shame." God knows I wasn't a bad
girl. But its dreadful to be hungry : and when I first met
the gentleman I was black and blue with father's beating,
and that starved I would have picked a cruet out of the
gutter. When father turned rue out of doors he said, "If
you come back again with your bastard," he said, " 11l
knosit your head off." I went to a neighbour's Snit, and
she spoke kind to me, and gave toe • cup of tea. the told
me to bear up, and she took me to the workhouse, ithd at
the workhouse the matron spoke to me and I was taken
in. I was confined on the Monday, ana I lutil a dreadful
titue of it. They were very klhd to me at the workhouse.
I told the nurse about father, and she cried shame on him.
" But you see, my dear," she said. "you wem't goodlook-
ing and handy. If you bad been, your father 'utl have
good in with you, and you wouldn't have been here."
When I left the workhouse I didn't know what to do. It
was twelve in the afternoon, sal I went begging at all the
corners but I couldn't fret • halfpenny. Baby was with me
I 52,1 khe time, and taking all tnY strength, till I couldn't
I gang ~sj my legs, or see out of my eyes. The police kept
I weerying zge about, and I couldn't stand still for • minute,
and there wase nasty drizzle of rain, and it wetted me and
I the baby through And through. I was by the canal, and got
under one of the arrhas..i hake% had any food for 12 hours,
i and there was no milk for the niMil The houses were
all shut up, and I was getting weaker ain3 weaker, and
quite dizzy and sick. I daren't go home, for fear of father,
and there I was with the baby under the bridge. I know
it was wicked, but what was Ito do I I looked at it, anil
It IMO blue and stiff with cold. It might as well have been
dead. Anyisow, I threw it in, and ran away as hard as I
contd. I don't knate what happened the rest of that night.
There was • load of lOW by the canal a little way on, and
I lay down and went to sleep. IThen I woke • barge was
going by, and one of the men gave use • bit of bread and •
bone of meat. 1 got • little strength out of that, and found
my way home to father's. Father was as hard OA Over. HO
ealled me dreadful names, and shut the door right in my
fane. There was • great disturbance, but he let me In alast t
.0.• the neighbours had gone he said, "Where's
• yOUT bastard t" I began crying, and told him ; daren't
i Urine the 14111 home, ill he said was, "A good thing
My house ain t going to la ut • leaving house. Ifyiou do
I ra‘otwhzi: gilithed.o.y;ouumust are ugir
eenc.carehw Gist
dirty as a cadger." Some days after that I was.Zrefi
The minute I sew the policeman I knew what it was, and
• I told him what I'd done, and said it Ws.. all because
father wouldn't take ma in. I WILA had up helm° the
niagistratea and then I was had up again before the Biagi:.
Ile wasn't so angry as father used to and hews.. crying
while be spoke. But he said it was the law, and he sail I
hail broken the law, and that I was a bad wicked woman.
And be said what little time I had I was to make the best
, of, for I wa, to he hanged. I haven't seen any one since.
I want to nee father, but lie won't come. The lady who
care of me is very kind, and Aare there's lots like me,
and Perhaps I shall get off, She says I was recommended
; to mercy, and that I shan't be hanged but go to prison for
I longtime. She says I shall blow in • day or two, and
that it,. of gentlemen are trying to ash the Queen to let
me off. 1 think she %veldt say so if it wasn't true.
never had anybody so kind to me before.