The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-04 00:00:00

INFANTICIDE AT HASTINGS.

About mid-day on Sunday, one of those tragical
events which are now, unfortunately, of frequent oc-
currence, took place wiShin the borough of Hastings.
The particulars will be found in the subjoined evi-
dence, taken at the inquest. Mr. Pagden, a most
respectable person, and tenant of the White Rock
Brewery, has, for some two months, bad in his service
a female, named Sarah Judge, only seventeen years
of age. At nine o'clock on Sunday morning she be-
came unable to do her work, and went upstairs to her
bedroom. Shortly after twelve o'clock the unfortu-
nate girl became exceedingly ill, and, it appears, de-
livered herself of a female child. When seen by Mrs.
Pagden she was undressed. Mrs. Pagden called in
a neighbour and sent for Mr. W. Duke, surgeon,
both of whom found the body of a female child at
the foot of the bed, with a flannel petticoat covered
over it. On examination the throat was found to be
cut, the whole of the vessels in front of the spine being
severed. On being questioned the girl said it was
done with a pair of scissors, and pointed out where
they might be found, and a pair of scissors were
discovered.
The inquest was held on the body at the Welling-
ton Inn yesterday, at two o'clock, before Mr. Ja
Phillips, deputy coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr, It.
Burchell was foreman. After proceeding to view the
body, the subjoined evidence was taken :
Harriet, wife of Mr. P. Pagden, was the first wit-
ness called, who, from recent indisposition, was ac-
companied by Mr. Pagden and a female attendant.
She deposed—l have a servant named Sarah Judge,
who has been with me two months. She ;
is quite
young, but Ido not know her age. She came to me
from her mother's house, bat she had been previously
for nine months living with the late Captain Strode.
I had an excellent character with her. She had left
Captain Strode's service about six weeks before she
came to mine. I had not a suspicion that she was in
the family way. At first for a week or ten days I
bad a slight suspicion ; from the respectability of her
parents, from her general good behaviour, and from
the excellent character I had received, that suspicion
aid not last. I did not mention the suspicion to
Sarah Judge or her mother. On Saturday she went
about he work as usual. I noticed nothing in
her. She worked up to nine o'clock on Sunday
morning, when another servant came and said the cook
was ill, and inquired if she had not better stay at home
from church and do her work. I replied in the
affirmative. I was not well at the time and was in
bed. After I got up, about half•past eleven, I sent
tily daughter up to see how Sarah was. She came
Philadelphia Bing down and said she was lying on the bed asleep, and
apparently very comfortablo. I had sent her up some
medicine, and at. about ten minutes past twelve I sent
went upstaij
Ring upstairs to see if this medicine had
Sarah Judge. From what she said, I
afterwards. piled; this was about half an hour
, the door was
ing the door I ariaws alone and went to the bedroom
door,
I threw
there
not fastened. I believe on open-
the room in confusion •
resseadrah Judge standing close behind
it ; she was undressed, I saw blood on the floor, and
her; on the floor.
Mary (we call her Mae;uP was a flannel lying near
She exclaimede
anything wicked, have you ?you
my hands and said, " Oh,
repeatini
have not committed
mdsyand said,"gGaontiedaYblesa you, ma'am,"
toldpm
you will not,
that's my trouble."
"What have I
observation, she
goup Ptatohbilaitehydeeegirlrspohlni,as.
tdhorneew?
u"
pahnedrohnan
twice. I went down stairs
sKhinegto
came,g go a
nfldo rhla ve Mrs.n beggedots Hazel,eheen
Sarah since.
very rea
ra to
assistance.
past twelve,
I also sent
f
Duke, and he came very shorn
Robert Hazel, deposed—Oa%
or Mr.
Frances, Wawltiefre
of
between
pg
aa
d en. quarter and
went half-
up
Idawyarstasoernn
sent for by Mrs. stairs on
arriving, and saw Sarah Judge. She was alone when
I went in—she ensued
the door herself. ban• p
lig.
den's other servant rapped at the door and said,
I saw sufficient to show
" Mary, open the door.
me that a child had been born, and said, " Good
gracious what is all this—you have had a baby."
She replied, " Yes." I then put her to bed, and did
what was necessary for a
person in her situation. I
then said, " Where is your baby ?" She pointed to
a piece of flannel lying on the floor at the foot of the
bed. I touched, it, and saw it was a child with the
back of its head upwards. It appeared to me as
though it had been laid down, and the flannel—l
think it was a flannel—petticoat thrown over it. I
asked her if it was born dead, and she said " Na." I
!hen asked her when it happened, and she replied
' just before her mistress came in." She was going to
not to,
say something more, but I told her and I
_
would ask her no questions,there as the doctor would be
presently. Ste said nothing more. I sat down
Duke came. I have been with h
but she ha er since,
Mr.
.r,o, s given me no more particulars. When
Ai 40 came and turned the child u I • A
Wound in its throat.this,
.notice. a
hear Sarah Judo On discovering I did not
wards asked svhg say anything. Mr. uke after-
with, and Sarxre the knife was that it was done
was scissors." said, "It was not a knife, but it '
Mr. Duke, who 1
tradicted the witness
present in the room, here con- I
as an the i
witness—Mr. Ticeil e -atter point. i
found a pair of scissors:nat came afterwards, and he
Philadelphia Kingl4 ani
servant to Mrs. Pagden.
Have lived with her for two
came there about two months years. Sarah Judge
ago• We had the same
sleeping room. I had not the Br
Ightest knowledge