The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-23 00:00:00

SOUTHWARK.

Thomas Nolan was— charted with murdering Margaret
Murray, alias Nolan, aged nine months, the offspring of an
incestuous intercourse between him and his own sister.

Police constable 171 hi said that on the previous after-
noon he was on duty in Gravel-lane, Southwark, when he
was called by a female into a house in Ewer-stret t, and the
prisoner was given into his custody for murdering his child.
The female in question was his own sister, and he hal been
informed that they had had two other children in the same
disgraceful manner. He was told that the infant died from
the 111-usage of the prisoner, who had it secretly buried by
the parish authorities.
Mr. A'Beekctt asked the officer when the death occurred.

The constable replied that he understood it wee Wed-
nesday, or that was the day it was buried. When he
took the prisoner into custody he said that he could give
every explanation before a magistrate.
Mr. A'Beckett asked whether the mother of tho infant
was present ?
The constable replied that she was not, neither could he
find her. Ile believed her to be a very bad woman.
Mr. A'Beckett said it was a very serious charge, but there
must be some evidence of the death or the cause of death.
The constable said he had the man from the workhouse
who buried the infant the day after its death.
Eleazor Bradford, a pauper belonging to Christchurch
workhouse, was next called. lie said he was considered as
undertaker to the pauper children. On Wednesday last
he buried an infant by the name of Mary Ann Collagen.
He did not know the cause of death, but he received a cer-
tificate from the registrar, and an order from the relieving
officer to bury it.
Police-constable 171 M said he received a certificate from
Mr. Spratt, the Colon surgeon, which set forth that the
child died from a bowel complaint, but he had been in-
formed otherw

Mr. Allickett remarked that it was impossible he could
detain a man on such a charge, unless there was seine
evidence. There was, in fact, no person to charge him.
Serjeent Gardiner, 25 M, said he received the charge at
the station-house, and the mother, a dissipated wnma

told him that she.did not know the child .was dead till
last night. That, with other circumstances, induced him to
kee4) the prisoner and el.ter the charge.
Mr. A'Beckett said it was a very serious charge, but it
was brought before him in a very bungling manner. The
officer had better go and fetch the medical man, and
anybody else that may know something of the circum-
stances.

Serjeant Gardiner said that Mr.Spratt,the union surgeon,
had never visited the child, but it was brought to him the
day before it died.
Mr. A'Beckett directed the officer to fetch the surgeon to
give some explanation of this mysterious affair.
In the course of the afternoon, Mr. Spratt, the surgeon of
Christchurch pariah, attended, and informed his worship
that he recollected thel infant being brought to him, and he
believed it had the bowel' complaint, and prescribed
for that. He, however, did not carefully examine the
infant.
Mr. A'Beckett said it was a great pity the sargeoa did
not examine the child with more care, as his evidence would
be of some importance in ouch a case. However mysterious
the affair might be, and the depraved conduct of the pri-
soner, there was nothing that he could detain him
for; therefore he must be discharged. The magis-
trate informed the constable that if he got any further
evidence to implicate the prisoner he might apprehend him
again.
The Sergeant said that the parties were all Irish Roman
catholic., and that although they were so ready to give the
prisoner in charge, they now refused to come forward and
give evidence.
Mr. A'Beckett said there was no evidence agaiott the
prienaer, therefore he must be discharged.
Thomas Boyce.. fashionably dressed man, who was de-
scribed on the charge sheet as a gentleman residirg at
Plaistow, was charged with committing an assault nu a re-
spectable married woman named Amelia West, and using
disgusting language.
Complainant stated that she was near her husband's resi-
dence on Tuesday evening, about 9 o'clock, in the Neck-
inger-road, Bermondsey, when the prisoner came up to her
ant commenced pulling her about in a very indecent man-
ner. She remonstrated with him, and told him to go about
his business, as she was a married woman. He then called
her vile names, at the same time striking her a violent blow.
Fortunately, a constable came up and took him into cus-
tody.
Mr. A'Beekett said it was a most cowardly assault, and
his being drunk was no excuse. Ile should, therefore, fine
him 401. The defendant immediately paid the flue and
left the court. _