The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-07 00:00:00

TIM SON. LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 7, 1863

to see if he could find him about the ground, and when he
did so he used to tell him that there were some still•borns
waiting for him to fetch away.
The Rev. Mr. Cohen, the rector of "Whitechapel, here in-
quired what was to be done with the bodies, as they wished
to get them removed, so that the church might be got ready
for the morning's service.
The Coroner said they might be removed into a vault or
up into the belfry again, but it was most essential that they
should be placed in some place of security, as well as of
easy access ; or at all events that those which had dresses
should have them handy, as they might lead to identify and
throw some light on who had charge of the bodies.
It was arranged that they should be removed, under su-
pervision of the police inspector present.

Evidence of Varcoe continued--I never saw Mr Wilkin-
son when I went to look after Smith. When Smith fetched
the " stills " he sometimes brought a black bag and some-
times a sack. I have seen him remove as many as four at
one time. I should say he could not smuggle them into
the belfry without being seen.
By the Coroner—lt is always usual to have a certificate
from a medical man or midwife for burial of a still-born
child. We should take it as a certificate from a midwife
whether it was true that the party signed it or not.
Coroner—ln your 30 years' experience do you know of it
being the fact, that bodies which are sometimes left with
undertakers for burial don't get buried at all ?

Witness—Such things might have taken place, but they
have not come under my knowedge personally.
Coroner—When a child is brought with a certificate as a
" still-born," do you or the undertakers exercise any super-
vision to see if it is "still .born" or not?

Witness—Sometimes people come and say they have a
" still-born" to bury, and they get the shell, and bring the
body back to be buried, and it is taken as a " still-born"
without any further inquiry.
By the Coroner—Supposing it a found not to be a "still-
born," then we should refuse to bury it without the regular
fees. It would be 9s. 6d. at the Victoria, and 2s. 6d. if a still-
born. I have no doubt that may children are buried as
" still-born" which are not still-born.

Joseph Corner said he resided at 6, Newland-place,
Bishopagate, and was a labourer, Had been employed as
gravedigger in several burial grounds. Never received any
still-born children at Whitechapel Church while he dug
graves there, which was about three years ago. All he had
to do was to dig graves in the ground.
The Coroner said they had now got as far as they could
with their inquiry that day, and he was free to confess the
evidence they had as yet heard threw but very little light
upon the fact of how these bodies got into the place where
they were found. The dresses, however, in which some of
the bodies were placed might, however, be identified, and
throw some light upon it, if they adjourned, and trace out
the party or parties who put them there. He proposed,
therefore, to adjourn for a week.
After some discussion the inquiry was adjourned till
Saturday next.