The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-04 00:00:00

FRIGHTFUL CHARGE OF INFANTICIDE.

Yesterday, Mercy Steer, a young female, only 17
years of age, of delicate frame, inanimate expression,
and evidently labouring under severe indisposition, was
charged, at Lambeth Police-office, with the infanticide
of her female child, of which she had been delivered,
and with its subsequent mutilation, under the most
frightful and appalling circumstances. The prisoner
was without professional assistance. The first witness
called was Mrs. Elizabeth Whitby, a married lady, re-
siding with her husband, at No. 12, James's-terrace,
Commercial Road, Peckham, who deposed that the pri-
soner came into her service on the 28th September last.
On the 20th of October, she told witness that she felt
very ill, and that as the place did:not agree with her, she
thought she had better go home. On complaining of her
illness she said she had got a severe cold. The witness
consented to her leaving the service, and accordingly on
the day last mentioned she went away, stating that she
was going to Billinghurst, Sussex. The prisoner was
then very ill, and witness, commiserating [with her, sent
a boy to assist her in carxying her box to the omnibus
to take her into the Borough. The witness bad not
seen her from that time to the present day. During
the month she resided with the witness, she (the wit-
ness) had no suspicion that the prisoner was in the
family way ; but some friends having made some re-
marks about her, the witness told her that she thought
she was in the family way; that she had spoken to a coc-
tor about her, and asked the prisoner if she would go with
her to see him. Witness made this offer thinking it would
induce her to tell the truth. The prisoner replied, " Oh,
dear, no ma'am, nothing of the sort," and expressed her
readiness to accompany witness to the doctor. This satis-
fied witness at the moment, and she said no more to the
prisoner about it. On Saturday. the 19-h of October,
about half-past nine, the prisoner lighted the fire and pre-
pared the breakfast. After the witness had breakfasted
she called to the prisoner, and found her in, her bed-
room, lying on the bed. She stated that she was not
well, but that she would be better presently. The wit-
ness inquired where she felt the pain, and she replied
in her back, and that she had often felt it before.
The witness observed to her that she did not like the
appearance ; that it was more like a married wo-
man's feeling than any thing else, and again asked
her if she should like to see a medical man ? The pri-
soner cried, and said she should not like to see one. The
witness then left her, and at about twelve o'clock she
came down stairs and said she was much better. Wit-
ness made her some gruel and told her to keep quiet.
Nothing more was said until the following Monday even-
ing, when the prisoner complained that her legs ached
very much. Witness ordered her to bed, but she did not
go until half an hour afterwards. The next day she
went away as already described by witness. On Tues-
day, the 26th alt., Serjeant Qainnear came to the
witness's residence, and then the prisoner's bed-room was
examined for the first time, and on taking up the carpet
by the side of her bed, the under side of it was found to
be very much stained; the floor under it was also stained,
but had been washed. The prisoner left behind her a
pair of boots, one of which on examination was also
found to be stained. The serjeaut then came down-
stairs with witness, and they proceeded to the water-
closet. There the witness saw Quinnear find, thrown
into the soil of the:cesspool, the body of a child, cut into
several pieces, which he took away. To complete the
depositions it was found to be necessary to have the
evidence of Mr. Flower, the police surgeon, who had
examined the body ; and for that purpose the prisoner
was remanded till a future day.

SPORTING NOTES.

No. CCCXLI.
EPSOM AUTUMN MEETING.

During the last week or two fate seems to have de-
creed that my views, with respect to the results of the
great races, and a few of the lesser ones, should be com-
pletely nullified. The steeple chases at Worcester, yes-
terday, fully exemplified this; for Proceed, my particu-
lar selection for the Grand Annual Steeple Chase, while
running very forward in the race, and looking a winner
all over, at the second jump out of the moors, on landing,
could not maintain his footing, rolled over, and was
instantly out of the race. My principal selection for the
Selling Steeple Chase, Fazeley, although at Worcester,
did not start for either of his engagements; the horse
whom I had named as next best to him—the Greatbeart
gelding—was brought to a stand still suddenly, by get-
ting his foot in a grip, and came down a burster, by
which all chance of his winning was annihilated. At
the time he fell he was, to all appearance, the winner in
a canter. For the Hurdle Race, I gave the General and
Fazeley as likely occupants of the first and second
places; it was found, however, that the General had had
quite enough of it in his race of Tuesday, and in the
steeple chase, and, consequently, did not start. Fazeley,
as I before remarked, though in the vicinity of the
course, did not make his appearance there, for some un-
fathomable reason or other. My remark that Tomboy
was their principal opponent was verified by the race, as
he beat his field of seven, including Dr. Husband and
Harriet, in very clever style. The race for the Grand
Annual Steeple Chase, after Proceed had been disposed
of by his fall, and Chieftain had met with an accident,
was never in doubt, as the General was much too fast for
the Reiver and Quickstep, and Rat-traps chance had
been thrown away by cutting out the work for his stable
companion. The General's victory was accomplished by
three lengths. Chieftain is said to be so seriously dam-
aged that he will have to be shot. Archer, his jockey,
escaped unhurt.
The sport provided by Mr. Dorling, of the hybrid
class, to come off to-morrow at Epsom, consists of the
Scramble Steeple Chase—a two mile run; the Durdan's
Plate—a three-quarters of a mile spin; the Free Handi-
cap Hurdle Race ; and the
.Epso!:n Autumn Steeple
Chase. The last-named—which will be run over the
usual steeple chase cotrse, about four miles—will, in
all probability, be contested by Peter Simple, Victress,
Young Lott ,ry, the Screw, Annie Laurie, and Forest Lad
the General, the
Reiver, and Maria Monk, may also
run, but their exercise in the mud at Worcester yoster-
day, must prove a serious arawback to any chance they
may possess. Sir Peter Laurie, whether ho runs or not
at list 81b, can have no chance of running. I am not
over-confident of Peter Simple starting ; but if he runs
he ought to win with ease. Victress will probably run
well; and Young Lottery will, no doubt, be a candidate
for the third or fourth place. The owner of the Screw
has, I think, a fair chance thia time of landing his horse
a winner. Ten and Sixpence and Rinf_leader, whether
runners or otherwise, are of no consequence. Ann:e
Laurie is made safe by several others. Forest Lad will
probably represent Mr. Higgin's interests. As I before
remarked, if Peter Simple runs, I think be will win; in
his absence the race will probably lie with Victress,
Young Lottery, the Screw, and Forest Lad, the lot not
unlikely finding their way home in the order named.
J. B. (Melton)—l am not aware of the exact time
that nungerford was scratched for the Cambridgeshire
stakes; but thus much I do know, that ho was struck
out some time beforo nine o'clock on Monday evening
the 25th ultimo.

THE SMUT OF TUE TURF.