The Express.
London, England, 1863-10-01 00:00:00

MARYLEBON E.

A respectably-dmm4 nairier woman, named Sarni
Creed, residing at Poplar, was charged with stealing a
little girl, aged five years, under the following singular cir-

ounlat-Roces-:.

Sarah Lewis. ridding at No. 2, Highworth-street, Lisson-
grove, said—Yesterday af tereoon the prisoner and another
woman came and asked if a blind man named Cattle was in.
On being answered in the negative they went away, but
returned in about a quarter of an hour after. They both
went upstairs, and whilst the woman not in custody was
talking to Mrs. Cattle, who is also blind, the prsoner took
the child which was naked, from the bed, aid throwing a
shawl over it, both made off.
Mr. Mansfield—Where is the child sow!
Witness—At the workhouse. The father is here, and
also the step-mother.
Prisoner—Cattle, the blind man, is not the father.
Anne Cattle, the blind woman, said the prisoner did mat&
the child from the bed as she (witness) was sitting by the
fire.
Mr. Mansfield—What is the name of the child!
Primmer—Anne Freeling. The child belonged to my
husband's sister, and she asked me to look after it as she was
dying.
Mr. Mansfield—How can's it in possession of the blind
man! . . .

Prisoner—He is supposed by every one to be the father,
uhe married the mother. The poor little thing
taken to the workhouse. I had it away once before to my
plies at Poplar. It wee then covered with vermin, and I
was two bourn combing its hair.
Mr. Mansfield—Your husband, no doubt, is the nearest
relation she bac The blind mania not her father any more
than the blind woman is her mother. . . .

Prisoner —No more the parfaits than your worship is.
Mrs. Cattle (the blind women)—We hare brought her up.
Prisoner—l hare had to pay for it!
Cattle (the blind man)—lt is a scandalous thing to take
the child. It was ill with the mosaics, and the doctor said
it ought to be kept warm.
Mrs. rlsttle—Wily didn't she keep the child when she
stole it before? .

--- •
Prisoner—Betatise you decoyed her away from me again.
Mr. Mansfield—The child was not born in wedlock. 40
that it has clearly no father, and, again. the mother is
dead. - ' - - • • -

Prisoner—l wu willing, if I had been allowed to keep the
child before, to send it to boarding school.
Blind man—l am the father. She has asked me to place
it in the workhouse, but I would not do that, as 1 mu willing
to work.

Mr. Mansfield (to prisoner)— Are you able to support it
Prisoner—l am, and willing, for it is cruelly treated now.
Mr. Mansfield- My opinion is that you (prisoner) are the
proper person to have charge of the child. It is now in the
workhouse, but it must not be left to be a burden to the
ratepayers. The best course to be pursued, as I can make
no order, is to flu to Mr. Tubbs, the overseer, and explain
the matter to him. Yon are discharged.
Mr. Marsh (park constable), who took the prisoner, said
the child was in a most filthy state.
Mr. Mansfield-You did tbe best thing you could in
taking it to the workhouse. The object of the blind people
was no doubt to train it fur begghl/4.
Prisoeer left the court crying, after thanking the magis-
trate, and said she would see that the poor little orphan was
taken care of.