The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-24 00:00:00

Child Murder in the City-road.

A respectably-attired young woman, who ap-
peared to feel her position very acutely, and who
gave the name of Selina Kent, aged 18, a domestic
servant, was charged before Mr. Barker, yesterday,
at the Clerkenwell Police-court, with wilfully mur-
dering her new-born infant, in the City-road.
Mr. Beard, of Basinghall-street, attended for the
defence, and Inspector Judge, N division, watched
the case on behalf of the police.
Mrs. Theresa Levey, of 341, City-road, said—
The prisoner was my servant, and had been so for
about 8 months. On Friday three weeks I left my
house about a quarter-past 12, and returned home
about 4. I knocked at the door twice before I was
admitted, and then I was much frightened at seeing
the prisoner looking very ill. She then went into
the kitchen, and I asked her what was the matter
with her, and she said it was nothing but natural
causes. I asked her for the address of her mother,
but she would not give it to me, saying that she did
not want her mother. Feeling dissatisfied I sent
for my medical man. She said she would go to her
mother the following day. When the doctor came
she was still very obstinate, but when I said I would
send for a police-constable she gave me the ad-
dress of her mother. I went to the mother,
who said that she had no room for her daughter, but
after a great deal of persuasion she came to see her
daughter. The prisoner said she knew nothing was
the matter with her, and rather insulted her.
Cross-examined—l was not aware what was the
matter with her, nor was I aware that she was ill
in the morning. I did not refuse to let her go
home. The doctor saw her at my request.

Police-sergeant Taylor, 33 N, said—On Friday
night, the 29th of January last, about half-past 10,
I was called to 341, City-road. From what I heard
I went into the kitchen and saw the prisoner sit-
ting there apparently very ill. I sent for Dr. Powell.
I assisted her upstairs. I then made a search for
the child. I went to the privy in the backyard,
and after wrenching off the seat I found the body of
a male child nearly covered over with soil, with a
piece of oid stocking tied tightly round its neck. I
then washed the child and called the doctor to see it.
Mr. Joseph Taylor Powell, M.D., 325, City-road,
said—l was called by Mrs. Lavey about half-past 5
on the 29th of last month. I went downstairs, and
saw the prisoner in the kitchen, with her hand upon
her face, with a great many marks of blood about
the place. I asked her what was the matter, and
she said "Nothing at all." She did not want any
doctor. I tried some time to find out what was the
matter. She would not let me examine her. At
about half-past 8 I was fetched again, and correctly
examined her, and gave it as my opinioa that the
prisoner had been delivered of a child. She was
taken upstairs, and I then ascertained that within
a few hours she had been delivered of a child. After-
wards I was called downstairs into the kitchen, and
found the sergeant washing a dead child. I examined
it and found a piece of stuff round its neck. I have
since made a post mortem examination. Externally
I found that the naval string had been torn about
an inch and n half. The face and bead were very
much congested and the lips livid. Internally the
brain was congested. as were the lungs, which
floated in water. The lungs were full of air all
over. The heart contained no blood. The other
organs were perfectly healthy, and the stomach was
empty. The child had partly breathed.
Mr. Barker—What do you say was the cause of
death ? Witness—l should say it was suffocation.
Mr. Barker—Was the piece of stuff tied tightly
round the neck ? Witness—Yes: the skin under
the ligature was white, and the parts above and
below were raised. There were indentations from
the texture of the ligature.
Cross-examined—l will not undertake to swear
there was any separate existence of the child from
its mother.
Mr. Beard said an inquest had been held, and the
jury returned a verdict of wilful murder, but the
coroner said he hoped the magistrate would send
the case for the concealment of birth.
Mr. Barker said the prisoner would be sent to
the Central Criminal Court for trial.