The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-06-12 00:00:00

SUSPECTED CHILD MURDER AT
MARSH WOOD:

N. M. Loggin, Esq., coroner, held so inquest at the
Shave Cross lon, in Marshwood, on Saturday last, on
the body of • female child.
Peninah Barrett, vibe( John Barrett, of Whitehnrch
Canoniooram. said: In May last I lived at Marshwood,
and on the 18th weal to the house of Mrs. Ppiller, at
Prime farm, and asked where was Elisabeth Watt. the
daughter of Mrs. Spitler. This ISM about 8 o'clock in
the morning. Mrs. Spitler said "Oh dear, it's over."
and went into the nest door. I went umitsirs and saw
Elisabeth Trott in bed. She said to ma 'lee all over,
thanks be to God." I found • child In bed with her.
It was dead. She asked me to cut the umbilical card,
and I did and it bled, also the child's mouth.
Nobody had seen or touched the child before I saw it,
when there was cot • spot of blood about it. The lips
were purple, and the nose was turned • little on oue
side; the face was not esttened, and there were no
marks of violence on the body. I wrapped th• child in
Troll's petticoat, and caked her what else meant to do
with it. She said, " Put it away safe, where it shan't
be found." Before I went upstairs, I slaked Wm.
Spitler what they meant to do with the child, and she
said "Born it all. I said "It shan't be burned." She
then said " Put it away where it shan't be found."
Mrs. Spitler said the child wart born at three o'clock,
and bad lived one hour. I knew whim I wee told it
was all over, that it was meant the child was born, as
Elisabeth Trott had told me it was expected. I went
to the hoses about having • dress altered, but found
some one was jut going to be sent to fetch nis. I took
the baby and carried it to my house. I did
not know what to do with it. Mrs. Spitler
said it should not put in the churchyarg.
carried it upstairs where I bad two children-
Tne eldest said, "Mother, what are you going to do with
that naked baby r I psi it on the ILior and left it
there for nearly two hours. I then dog out • place in •
ditch close to MY hours, celled Dod's Eye, sod put the
baby in it, wrapped in • sloth, and buried it, intending
afterwards to ChM IS to the churchyard. Elisabeth
Trott said that if I did not put it away securely I
should not have it at all. It is half • mile from Mrs.
Spilkea to my hones. 1 took back the petticoat to
Elizabeth Trott the same day. I met John Harris, of
Marsheood, nil was carrying the baby to my house. I
told Mrs. Davis, of Birdsweire gate, that the child was
born and that I bad buried it. I also told Elizabeth
Roper. Elisabeth Copp same to my house while the
child was there. I told her I had it upstairs and what
r was going to do with it. I showed her the petticoat,
bit she did not see the body; she would not do so.
Ph. night before last a policeman came to me. Yester-
day he came to me again, and Mr. Walbridge with him.
I thou told the policeman all about it, and showed him
where I had buried the child. —By the jury: I got
nothing for burying the child.
with P.O. Abeam'. yesterday to • field in the
P.S. Hitch, of Marshals's, add I west, In company
parish of
Whitchurch. and found the last witness, who took is.
to • spot in the garden lately occupied by hey at Dad's
Bye, and said that was where she buried the child. We
dug up the ground, and found the body about • foot
under the earth. wrapped In the piece of cloth I now
produce. I took charge of the hod) and had it in my
custody until I delivered it to Mr Boater. This morn
log I charged the prisoner, Elisabeth Trott, with the
wilful murder of her illeeitinpite (amide child on the 18th
May. She answered, " I know that's wrong..
P.C. Abrene, of Whitzhurch, on Thursday asked
Mrs. Barrett how she heard that Elizabeth Trott had
hoes in the (saw, way. She answeret, have
to suffer. I never hurt it." This morniag I took Mrs.
Spiller icto custody •nd charged her with coseseal-
meat of the birth of toe child. She said " It's quite
wrong; I have not seen but two infants this year. I
have'nt seep it.'
_

Thirst Stevens, • single woman, living in the nest
house to Elimbeth Trott, .yoke to the altered appear.
&nee of Trott leet Monday, from the 15th M.y.
Mr. Richard W. Brooter, surgeon, of Beaminster,
spoke to making a poet-morfess examinatibt of the
child's body that afternoon. It was in • stale of peat
geoooloo ition. Ho described the nature of the ex•
&ruination made by him, and said there was evidence
from the .tate of the lunge and other parts
to show the chill had been born alive, and that it bad
lived an inlependent existence, thonab he eould not my
how long, but his impremion was not more than a few
hours. He thought the child died from Oct being
pr•perly attend.rd to at its birth.
S. Webb, surgeon, of Bounliaster, who assisted
Mr. Broeter in making the posimicrefem izamltiatioo,
concurred in lie "idenge given by that pntleman.
Supt. M.Hale asked for an adjournment to this day
(Tneeday) for further evident* which was granted.
Klimbetb Trutt is in custody.