The Express.
London, England, 1855-01-11 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

MANSION-HOUSE.

The Lord Mayor requested that the press would acknow-
ledge the receipt of the following donations for the poor-
box :—From the Drapers' Company, 101. 101. ; and from the
Leathersellers' Company, 101.
BOW-STREET.

Harriet Naomi, a young woman, was brought before Mr.
Jardine. charged with the following inhuman treatment of
a male infant child, six weeks

James Merchant,, police-constable F 111, stated that he
was on duty in Oreyhound-court, Milferd-lane Strand, at
about nine o'clock in the evening of the 28th ult., when he
fancied he beard a slight cry or moan. On looking about
him he saw an infant child lying stark naked upon the door
step of a house. It bad been raining during the evening,
and the child's head was lying in a pool of water, which,
owing to the severity of the night, was partly frozen.
Mr. Jardine—De you mean that the water was actually
freesing round the child's head ?
Witneu—Yes, your worship. I took up the infant, but
it seemed quite benumbed and gave no Cps of life. I ob-
served a bruise upon its head. I immediately took the child
to Mr. Dunn's, the surgeon's, in Norfolk-street, and it was
nearly two hours before the child came to. I then took it to
the workhouse of the Strand Union.

Mr. Spencer, the assistant of Mr. Dann, stated that when
the child was brought to him by the last witness, it seemed
altogether in a hopeless state. It was quite naked, and
perfectly rigid; the eyes were fixed, and there was no pulse
whatever. The proper remedies were applied, but it was
half an hour before any sign of life was manifested, and
more than one hour before animation was completely re-
stored. It was an extremely cold and frosty night.
Susan Davies, nurse in the lying-in ward of the Strand
Union Workhouse, stated that the child was brought to
her late on the night of the 28th December, by the police
constable. She knew it again directly. The child was
born in the workhouse, on the 28th of November, and the
prisoner was the mother of it. She had been admitted into
the house to be confined, representing herself as a married
woman who had been deserted by her husband. On the
afternoon of December 28 she discharged herself from the
house, and when she left was supplied with ample cloth-
ing, and the proper means of making the child com-
fortable.

Mullett Goodwin, married woman, of 15, Newcastle-
court, stated that she knew the prisoner, and was with her
at Mrs. Weller's public-house, in Wych.street, on the even-
ing of December 28. The prisoner had a child in her arms,
which was well provided with clothing at that time. She
left the public house at about eight o'clock, stating that she
had a friend named Jennings, in Long•acre, who Would give
her a free lodging. Witness saw her again the next day at
the same public house, and asked her how the child was.
She said she had left it with a friend who was
going to take care of it for her. On the following
day witness saw her again, and told her that
there was a rumour about her having deserted the child.
The prisoner smiled, and said it was being well eared for ;
but witneu followed her about from place to place, and said
she would not leave her until she consented to accompany
her to Mr. Lockhart, the relieving officer, and have the
matter cleared up. Eventually the prisoner went with her
to Mr. Lockhart, and she was taken into custody.
Another woman, named Goodell, who was in the company
of the prisoner and the last witness on Thursday evening,
the 28th, at the public-house in Wych-street, confirmed the
former part of Mrs. Goodwin's statement.