The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-26 00:00:00

REMARKABLE CASE OF ALLEGED

CIIILD MURDER.

Last evening Dr. Lankester, the Central Middle-
sex coroner, resumed an inquest at the Elephant
and Castle, King's-road, Camden-town, opened on
the 12th inst, touching the death of a newly-born
male chid, supposed to have been occasioned by
violence. Rosa Clifford, an under housemaid, in
the service of Mr. Scadding, 2, Gordon-street, Gor-
don-square, was alleged to be the mother of the
child, and being too ill to attend, the adjournment
took place in consequence, to enable her to be pre'
sent on this occasion.

The Coroner opened the proceedings by stating
that the inquest was adjourned in order to have the
alleged mother of the deceased child before them,
but she was not there, although it appeared she
was in a condition to come.

Inspector Reynard, of the C division of police,
said he was authorised by his superintendent to
say that Rosa Clifford was in the custody of the
police, and it was his duty to charge her before a
magistrate. He could not allow her to attend the
inquest without an order from the Secretary of State.
The Coroner said this was the old story of a con-
flict between the Coroners' and the Police Courts.
A Juror remarked that if that was the case, he
could see no good in Coroners' Courts at all.
Mr. Walter Scadding, of 2, Gordon-street, then
gave evidence to the effect that Rosa Clifford was the
under-housemaid to his family, She was waiting at
their dinner-table at 7 p.m. on the Bth inst. As the
first course New. being changed she left the dining-
room suddenly. The bell was rung for her return.
She almost directly returned, bat very suddenly
left again.

The Coroner—l suppose she wore plenty of cri-
noline?

Witness admitted that she seemed to be wearing
more crinoline than usual.

Other witnesses examined proved beyond doubt,
that Rosa Clifford must immediately after her last
sudden disappearance from the dining-room have
given birth in her bedroom to the deceased.
Mr. J. H. Brown, 55, Gordon-square, was called
to attend Clifford that evening, and in answer to
his questions she resolutely denied having been con-
fined. On the following morning he again attended
her, when his attention was directed to a box in her
room, and in that he found the deceased. He per-
formed a Post-mortem examination of the body.
Externally there was a bruise on the nose, and the
head was crushed. The two hones of the skull
were extensively fractured from the top of the head
downwards on each side. The lungs were only
partially inflated. The crushed condition of the
brain seem to have arisen from compression. The
extensive fracture could not have been produced by
the mere fall of the child from the mother on to the
floor, but it might have been caused by the child
falling on the floor and the mother falling upon it.
The Coroner said it was now for the jury to say
whether they should adjourn for the purpose of
applying to the Home Secretary to allow this
woman to be brought before them, or to come to
a verdict at once. His present experience war-
ranted him in saying that the Home Secretary
might feel it necessary to refuse the applications
and it was for the jury to say whether another op'
portunity should be given for refusal.
A juror thought that, as the girl had not been
taken before any tribunal as yet, there could be ne
sufficient reason for the police to refuse her being
brought before them.
The Coroner said he had issued his order for the
girl to be produced, and the police had refused to
permit it. He could issue another order, but he
doubt the police could and would prevent its exe-
cution under the existing law. He considered her
presence was not necessary for them to find the
cause of death, but he thought it only proper that
persons implicated at a Coroner's Court should be
present to hear what they were to be tried for.
The court-room was cleared of strangers. The
jury then deliberated, and finally determined to
adjourn, for an application to be made to the Home •
Secretary for the production of Rosa Clifford.

COUNTRY MARK] 2S.

sl.'

MANCHESTER-SEPT. 25.

This morning the English wheat offering was mostly
in poor condition, and experienced a slow sale, declining 23
per qr. American was in moderate demand, at late rates.
Flour, except the best sorts, receded 6d to is per sack and
barrel. Oats and oatmeal favoured buyers. Egyptian
beans 6d per quarter dearer. Indian corn a slow sale, but
held for quite as much money.

BIRMINGHAM—SEPT:2S.
At this day's market there was a fair supply of English
wheat, mostly inferior, at a decline of is per qr on the cur*
rencies of this flay week. Foreign also is lower in price•
Barley and peas brought fully former rates, Weather
fine.

PLYMOUTH—SETT. 23.
White, 56s to 60s • red, Ms to 56s per qr ; Dantzic, 57°
to 58s ; American, gls to 55s ; Spanish, —s to —s Rus-
sian —s to Barley at previous rates-34s to 38s per,
qr Rus-
sian,
malting ; grinding, 27s to 28s ; oats, 23s to27s; and
beans, —s to —s; flour, 40s to 43s Od.