The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-06-30 00:00:00

THE ALLBOED CHILD
MURDER NEAR CRADLEY HEATH.

On Tuesday even inglir, Edwin Docker (East
Worcestershire Coroner) held an inquest at
the Crown Inn, Lyda Green, Cradley, on
the body of a male child, who had been
found in the River Stour. At the time
announced for the inquest to be held a large
number of persons assembled in the vicimity
of the public-house. Alice Hill, who had been
arrested on suspicion of causing the death
of the child, was present at the inquiry, in
the custody of the police. Superintendent
Wheeler represented the county police
Warwick Plant, fishmonger, Cradley
Heath, said that on the 24th inst. he went
in the direction of the River Stour for the
purpose of catching rats for his dog. When
approaching the river some person shouted
oc t, "You will be prosecuted for trespassing."
At the same time he saw a parcel, and a friend
who was with him, by means of astick,
dragged the pawel to land, and upon ex-
amining it found that it contained the body
of a male child. It was wrapped up in a
piece of bedquilt, and tied with a cord.
The body was in a very decomposed state.
He sent fer a police-officer, and Police-
constable Hubarql came about ten minutes
afterwards. Whilst a.messenger was fetch-
ing the police some person shouted oat, "You
had better get out of the mowing grass or
you will be had up." His friend who was
with him said, "That is Alice Hill who is
shouting."
Hill;Alice lt w.ts not me. It was Sylvia
Hill.

The Coroner said it was only right that a
that stage of the proceedings he should ex-
plain to the jury that Superintendent
Wheeler had deemed it to be his duty to
arrest Alice Hill, a single woman, residing
at Lyde Green, on the charge of wilfully
murdering the child which had been found
in the river.

Witness (continuing) said he saw the
person who shouted, but he could not
identify her.
The accused, upon being asked if she
wished to question the witness, said it could
not have been L2r who shouted, as she was
in her house at the time.

Mr. Wesley Hayes Thompson, surgeon,
said on the morning of the 25th he was
called upon to el imine the body of a fully
developed Mal. &ilk'. From an internal
examination ho bad no doubt that the child
was born alive and lived from a +ew minutes
to an hour. Tl:e body weighed Gibs. fl oz.
There were no el.' rnal marks of voilence.
It waft a well not, •-thed child. Death must
have been caused suffocation or drowning.
In his opinion if t_ child had been properly
attended to at the birth it would have lived.

The Col'ouer: The child died through
want of pi per attention at the birth ?
W-tn' : 'l.liat is so.

Dr H._ury Hammond Smith, surgeon,
sui ! was present at the post-mortem
ex:. ..ination at the request of the Chief
Constable (Colonel Carmichael), and he
agreed generally with the evidence of Dr.
Thompson. He was quite positive that the
child had had a s:•,,arate existence.

Gcorge Mallin, ironworker, corroboratc,l
theavidence of Plant, and added that a man
named Shaw said it was Alice Hill who
shouted at them that the police were
corning.
The accused: It was Sylvia Hill who
shouted, and they told her to come off t ui
wall.

Tl2bert Shaw corroborated the evidence
tlae lat witness, and stated that he sl,v
Alice Hill near the river, aDd heard her
shout. Plant shouted back to her that,
she would have the police after her very
;shortly,"

• •", 14

•
.4

Police-constable !Inland deposed to
finding the body on the Worcestershire side
of the river Stour and conveying it to the
Crown Inn, Ly-de Green.
Samuel Hill, puddler, Lyde Green, brother
of the prisoner, said he could not swear to
seeing the piece of patchwork produced.
Elizabeth Edwards said she had noticed
prisoner's pregnant condition from Christ-
mas till about 17th of June, when the
symptoms disappeared. In a conversation
which she had with prisoner, prisoner said
she had had a miscarriage. During the
conversation prisoner held her hand to her
mouth. and she was trembling.
Florence Mallin, Providence Street,
Cradley Heath, said she spoke to prisoner
about her condition on Valentine's-day.
She also had a conversation with her about
a fortnight ago, when she asked prisoner
what she had done with her child. Prisoner
replied that she had put it in the closet, but
if the police went there they would not find
, anything.
Police-sergeant Pitt said he had compared
the piece of patchwork handed to him by
Police-constable Hnba,nd with a counterpane
I found on the bed of the prisoner's brother.
They matched. He asked her if she had
been delivered of a child, and she said '`_No."

The Coroner said that was all the evidence
that would be offered that night. There
was a lot more evidence to be brought
forward, hut the officer who searched the
closet was away at the Assizes. The inquiry
would therefore be adjourned till Monday.

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