The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-01-28 00:00:00

CHILD DROPPING.

Yesterday a ease was tried here, which excited the utmost
int . It occupied nearly five bows. Mr. TURTON very
ably condoeted the prosecution; Mr. COWLZT the defence.
Alm .4 I! into* and Thaws. Stapiwpas were indicted for
having conspired to defraud the parish of Bermondsey, by
exposing their male basiard child opposite the workhouse
of that parish.
Jaime Johanna Staptetern said, she lived at No. Sfl, Bruns-
wick.atreet, Blackfriari.road. The female Defendant came
to take • lodging at her house; said she was the wife of
an Exciseman. Is she evening she came again with the
male Defeadant, awl paid earnest; both took possession
is about a week, and lowed together as man and wife.
The woman was far advanced in preguancy. 'Eke man
said, that when the child was buns they should take it
to his mother's, as they were going to America. The
child, a boy, was born sin the Itlth of July. Whores was
at the birth. Mrs. Lewis was nurse. The child remained
in the house three weeks, after which it was taken to Low.
dell's-court to nunw. The father and mother left the
house the same slay, awl retuned in about a week, and
sent for the child. They then took the child out with
them; they returued at half-past ten as night without it.
The man was in a very agitated Nisbet stale. IViiness
asked where the child was. The woman said it was very
well, and well taken care of, at his grwsilinother'a
Wituess was nut satisfied, bat continued leer inquiries
for several days. The female Defendant told bee, that
.he and the man took the child, and bought • rush basket
awl a piece °five+ flannel, wrapped she child up in it, put it
tutu the basket, and that the man tied it to the kuocker of •
dour opposite Bermondsey workhouse, while she watched
at the top of the street; that there were Iwo or three nap.
kit,., a cap or two, mid a sleeping gown ; that there war a
reward of Int foe she discovery of the parents. Witness
afterwards saw the father, and told him :she understood what
be bad done with the child. He said he bad uo other UMW
of getting the child into the workhouse.
Sarah Lewis said she nursed the female Prisoner on the
23d of July, iv &OHS% ific-slreet, in her confioetnent. She
nursed the child a week, after whirl, she left it with them;
afterwards she saw the child at Bermondsey workhouse.
Maria Clarke' in August last,found the dour un upeuine it
rather heavy. She gait it a second pull, and was :lieu
knocked on her knee, by something falling against it. She
screamed, and Mr. Russ opened the dour, when there ap-
peared • basket, containing a child about five or six weeks
old. There were child's clothes in the basket. The child
was taken to the workhouse, which was opposite, and deli.
vend so Mr. Stephens, the master, the Defendant's, Stepheus,
father.

Mr. Cawley requested permission to a•k a question of
Sarah Lewis, the former witness. The question au a very
important one, for the answer was as follows :
Sarah Lewis—.Mrs.Stapleton said, be she and witness
went to Union• Hall, that witness must say as she dill, or
they would nut get the reward; that she must nut split.
Witness's, examined at Bermondsey, and gave such testi-
mony as she gave tu•day.
The father of the male Defendant said, be expected his sun
was married, but never heard at what church, nor saw the
certificate. His sun told hint so four years ago. The female
Prisoner was not the person to whom he said he was mar.
sled. Witness had a yoinig child brought to him in August.
lie was Master of Be. munilsey workhouse. He never yaw.
the person who brought the child, but that ;tem.., was ac-
companied by forty or fifty others. The child had been iu
the house ever since.
Counsel-0 Have you got the child here!"
Wittirea..." I expect so "
At this moment the child, who was in the body of the
Court in arms, cried out " Had!'
Witness cuatioawl.—The child was comforiahly wrapped
up to Mound. Witomes sun was empinyek, in smoking at a
water duet at the time. Witness did nut ask whose the
child was. _ .

A long discussion took place topes the propriety of receiv-
ing the evidence of the woman at Union-lull, in which it was
hinted by Mr. Turton that she had confessed she was an.
married, and that Stephens was father of the child. Mr.
Cowley couteuded that inch evidence. as the threat of the
parish accompanied her to the t Rce, was nut vuluutary,
sod therefore sot admissible.

The objection was declared to be valid.
Sarah :Ntephenrou, a pauper of Bermondsey Workhouse,
produced the child. It was identified by the vs I i11e6.1 11.

This ou the evidence ft., the proves igloo.
Mr. amt's:, fur the defence, odd three hail been HO
evidence as to the conspiracy, except tu that very questiona-
ble account given by Mr. Stapleton.
Mr. MAIRIIIIII4IIX, in summing up, said. the whole evident e,
u to tbe conspiracy, rested upon Mrs. Stapleton, who stood
before the Jury in a very awkward situation, leaving beryl
described by a witness Ovum there was no mans to doubt, as
' influenced by the consideration of the reward.
The Defendants were found flinty, and sentenced to six
months' iinprisuarnent.

It is reported at the Bar, that Lord Et.voN has
at length determined to resi►tn the Seals. We have
heard that he is to be wet:retied by Lind MAN-
Naas, the present Lord Chancellor of Leland. If
this arrangement shall take place, it is added that
Sir JOHN LEACH will be presented with the In•h
Seals, accompanied with a Barony.--( Evening
Paper.)