The Express.
London, England, 1864-10-12 00:00:00

SUSPICIOUS DEATHS pl CHILDREN AT

POPLAR.

CORONER'S INQUESTS.

Last night Mr. John Hompbreys, the Middlesex
coroner. held an Inquir7 at the Spotted Dog Tavern, High-
wtreet, Poplar, rarpecting the death of • fine female child,
the illegitimate offsprmg of Sarah Watts, a domestic servant.
Mrs. Francis Bowdler, of No. 1, Trafahtar-plaen
East India-road, the wife of • gentleman, said
that the female Watts had been in her service
two years, and she was 22 years of age. She
had always conducted herself properly and bad no fol-
lowers. On Wednesday afternoon last, about 3 o'clock,
she was RI, and asked permission to lie down. She accord-
ingly west to her bedroom, when witness subsequently
found her worse. Wither questioned bar, and sent for
Dr. Brownfield, who found that the deceased had been re-
cently delivered of a child. Witness could not nod the
body, bet sent for the aunt of Watts, who questioned her,
and the body of the child, quite naked, was discovered in
an empty bath under the bedatesd. A polies-countable was
called, and Watts was removed to the infirmary of the
workhouse, where she now remains in custody.
Nary Oinwalleder, of Grundy-street, Poplar, the aunt,
said when she was ;ailed she questioned Watts, who said,
"If you wool tell anyone I will tell you something,"
and from what she told witness she searched the room,
and found the body of deceased. There were no clothes for
the child, bat in her box witness found • memorandum
book, in which was written in black lead pencil.
" The latter end of September or the beginning of October,"
which was in Watts'. handwriting. She questioned her as to
the father of the child, when she said, ' I do not know his
name or where he lives, but he is • young man whom I met
only twice when he seduced me." _ _

-Lr. Brownfield, the divielooal medical offioar of Poplar,
said that be examined the child which was wall formed and
fully developed. There were no marks of violence, and be
believed that the child had been born alive.
The post-mortem eternisation disclosed the fact that the
child had breathed. Death had no doubt arisen from the
want of attention at the birth.

The Coroner remarked on the can, which he said would
no doubt go before another tribunal, but as far as they
(tbe jury) were concerned, he would suggest an open verdict.
The jery concurred, sad returned the to/lowing soi their
deciaion :—" That the deceased was found deed in a bath
in &certain dwelling, but whether born alive they bad not
sufficient evidence to prove."
A second inquiry was then gone into as to the death of
another female child found by Police-constable Jupp, ill K,
while on duty on Saturday night last, lying in • remote
spot in Morant-street, East India-road, Poplar.on. The body
was !inked, and had only been born a few
Dr. Brownfield said that the deceased was not of the
fall period of gestation, and most probably had not been
born alive. There were no marks of violence to account
for death.

The jury returned a verdict of " Found Dead."
A third inquest was then held on the body of a fine male
child, found dead in a ditch.
Alfred Elm', of Broiter's-cottage. Bromley, said that out
Sunday morels( Let while he was looking after some horses
is a field sear Farm-road, lisle of Dogs, 'lineal], Poplar,
he raw the body of the demand, which he got out of the
water, and gave to a police-constable, who removed it to
the workhouse. There was no one near the spot at the

Dr. Brownfield said that the body was that of s well-
developed child. but there weft no marks of violence to
account for death, which he believed had been produced
through wilful neglect and want of attention at the birth.
The Coroner remarked on the still-existing increase of
infanticide, wham

The jar!, u in the other oases, returned n verdict of
" Found dead in • ditch, but whether born &lire there was
no evidence to show."

TWIN BROTHERS AND TWIN Striwininut —The
inhabitants of Ithringste have recently had their attention
drawn to two of its autumnal Minton, who were brought
before the sitting magistrates, when the following charges
were made against them, and which resulted in their being
committed for trial. Two fashionably dressed young men,
named Samuel sod Thomas Croke; twin brothers, about 26
years of age, and not mom then Mt. in height each, with
remarkable similarity of features, some weeks ego pet up at
the Royal Albion Hotel, kept by Ir. Wright. They
represented themselves as sons of Mrs. Banbury,
who is connected with the booking firm at that name,
and she being well known to the lictelkeeper, he et once
received them. They lived sumptuously every day,
and became the observed of all observers. At last Mr.
Wright wanted the settling day to arrive, se they bed rue
up • bill of more than 11101. One of them told him that be
had written for 200/.. sod for the time the matter was per-
mitted to remain. They visited • draper's shop kept by
Mr. Franklin, is the High-street, and obtained goods to the
amount of 61. Ida., bat Mr. Franklin, finding that they had
decamped, issued • surnames for their apprebensios.
Superintendent Livick took them into custody et
Canterbury, and on being searched it was disco-
vered that one of the prisoners had on three pairs
of trousers and three shirts. They had hired • convey-
awe, and drove themselves there, petting up at the Rose
Hotel, where • good dinner was served them, with plenty of
wine. After passing the night sod having a good breakfast
they pretended to sake • survey of the town, leaving the
hone and chaise behind them. It proved, however, that
their real object was to leave unpaid the bill incurred,
which was nearly sod to quit the town by the drat
train. Their mouse is brought to an end for the pre-
sent, ss they are in the safe keeping of the gaoler
at Sandwich abiding their trial. The recant antecedents
of these two swindlers show that there are several pose
meal of fraud against them in Linden and elsewhere. For
some time they professed to awry on business in Holborn
ea conlmerchenta, and contrived to advertise in some
of the papers for a " collecting clerk, at 30s. • week wages.
Security 301. Apply by letter, enclosing • postage stamp."
Of coarse, when any answer was demanded the reply was
that the situation was disposed of, thus duping the un-
wary, It is to be hoped that their real character may be
known in order that society may be rid of such characters for
some time to come. Instead of being related to Yn. lian-
bury and Lord Edward Howard, or of being Fellows of
the Royal Society, one was • servant at Mr. Itsabary's,
chemist, Plough-court, and the other had hem errand boy
at • jeweller's in Oornhill.--Timer.

—•
BXGTAI OUTRAUL—A brutal and probably fatal
outrage was perpetrated on Sunday evening lust near Sal-
linamock, in the county of Loegtord. It appears that •
feud existed betwese three families named Farrell. Caosidir
and Merriman, who resided near each other, and three
brothers of the Merriman family. determined to completely
silence their opponents, waylaid Patrick Cassidy and James
Farrell, sod beat them in • most savage manner with
shovels, spades, &a. During the affray Patrick Cassidy
received • severe blow on the head with • shovel, which
leaves him is • precarious state. Farrell was not beaten so
much, but sustained some iuries. After satisfying them-
selves the brothers decamped, leaving their victims welter-
ing in blood. The police have captured Peter and John
Merriam, bat Frame has escaped. Caaaidy's life is con-
sidered to be in danger.
Tux Two Lanounsas COMITITZD ro PRISON TOIL
nor coma ro CHUICH.—A correspondent of the Times
writes :—" Al the Coedover Petty UNIOOOI. on Wednesday
laat, two labourer, named Richard Davies and Jobs Pinches
were abused by their muter, Mr. George Mason, of Ryton,
farmer, with having, on the 4th ult., refused to attend the
parish church and for this offence committed by the 1141 T.
H. Banos and Mr. H. de Grey Wader to the House of
Correction for seven days, is addition to having • propor-
tionate pert of their wages abated. Now, air, as this coo.
viction has excited an intense amount of disgust, I am
induced to trouble you with these facts, so that by their
insertion in your journal the extraordiaary decision of the
Condover magistrates may attract that amount of public
attention and public odium which it so richly deserves."
CUILLOI.7B 00CCAILINCL• —On Thursday last a
eingniar phoroomeooe took place in a field oo the farm of
Mr. Haatinp, of Lamborn, on the estate of the Earl of
Leicester. Soddenly, and without visible warning, for Mr.
Hastings had driven over the spot 20 =ionise before, the
owed gave 'ray, sad there append a abeam of 30 feet in
diameter, and of more than 17 in depth. Mr. Hastings had
a narrow secaoe, for if the surface had sunk beneath hie gig,
he mast have teen buried alive. At first there were no signs
of dearer to the adjoining surface, but as crowds of
country people have Socked to the spot. the lead, under
the unusual pressure, NOM likely to give way in other
places. Coats we phial. to be seen for a radius of 50
yards is every direction. From the immediate appearance
of water it 4 supposed that the ground bad been seder
mined by • eabtarousean stream. One side of the chasm
sow looks es if it were the opening of • cave, the earth
above which is a mere must, and then is a sensible els-
preasiou of a foot or two over quite an acre of mood.
Perhaps the ranee is to be sought to the extraordinary
dryness of the hod, the like of which Mr. Hastings ounce
remember daring his occupation of kat a oestary.—Bory
and Norwich Pact.