The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-08 00:00:00

THE MURDER OF AN INFANT BY ITS
MOTHER.

Yesterday afternoon, Jane Harrington, the wife of a
carpenter's labourer, residing at 5, Harrow-street, Mint,
Southwark, was brought before Mr. A'Beckett, at the
Southwark Police-court, for further examination, charged
with wilfully administering a deleterious drug to her
male infant, 17 weeks old, with intent to destroy its
life.
When placed in the dock yesterday she seemed ex-
tremely weak, and quite unconscious of the serious charge
ed to defend.
pending r .
Bagainst
pheearr.
Mr. A'Beckett (to Sergeant Golding.)—Have you any-
thing to state to-day as to the condition of the infant
whom the prisoner is charged with administering poiso'n

to ?
Sergemit Golding.—l have, sir. I attended the work-
house of St. George's, Southwark, this morning, and
saw -the child dead. The medical gentleman who at-
tended it is present, and can give evidence as to the
cause of death.

Mr. William Rendle, surgeon, Bridge-house-place,
Newington-causeway, was then sworn. He said—l am
medical officer for the parish of St. George's, Southwark,
and on Tuesday afternoon a child was brought to my
surgery in a dying state. I administered restoratives to
it, and it partially recovered, when I ordered its instant
removal to the workhouse.

Mr. A'Beckett—Have you attended it since?
Mr. Rendle—Yes, sir, and it died this morning. There
were no hopes of its recovery after I first administered
the restorative at my own surgery.
Mr. A'Beckett—What was the cause of death ?
Mr. Rendle—The child's death was apparently caused
by some laudanum beinc, administered to it. The infant
was in a very emaciated° state, and as soon as I saw it I
was positive it could not live long.
Mr. A'Beckett—Do you know thatlaudanum was the
drug administered to the deceased ?
Mr. Rendle—l do, sir.
Mr. A'Beckett—Did you see the prisoner when you
first had the child brought to you ?
Mr. Rendle—Yes, sir, and I said to her, " Mrs. Har-
rington, I fear you have poisoned the child."
Mr. A'Beckett—Did she make any answer to that
question ?
Mr. Rendle—Yes. She replied, " I have given it
some soothing stuff to send it to sleep, and I think I
have mistook the bottle, and given it what I intended
for myself." I asked her what she intended for herself,
when she replied, " I could not sleep at night after my
confinement, so I sent for something by a woman to send
me to sleep."
Mr. A'Beckett—Did she say anything else ?
Mr. Rendle—Yes ; I asked her what she sent for.
She said, " Laudanum, and only to sleep me ?"
Mr. A'Beckett—Did she tell you what she got it in ?
Mr. Rendle—Yes. I produce a bottle which she said
the laudanum was fetched in, and since then it had con-
tained wine.
Mr. A'Beckett—Where did this last conversation take
place ?
Mr. Rendle—ln her lodgings, No. 5, Harrow-street,
in the presence of the serjeant.
Mr. A'Beckett—Did she say how much laudanum she
had given to her child ?
Mr. Rendle—All she told me was that she drained
the bottle. She said nothing about the quantity. •
Mr. A'Beckett--How did she appear when this con-
versation was going on ?
Mr. Rendle—Half stupified and stolid ; also quite
indifferent as to everything around her. When I told
her, however, that she had poisoned her child, she ex-
claimed, " I hope not," and cried very much.
Mr. A'Beckett—Did you attend her in her confine-
ment ?

Mr. Rendle—l did not, but my assistant did by order
of the parish authorities. She was very low indeed.
Mr. A'Beckett—Have you made an examination of
the infant I

Mr. Rendle—No, I have not, but I shall make a
post-mortem examination prior to the inquest.
Mr. A'Beckett--Have you anything more to say at
present?
Mr. Rendle—l have not.
Mr. Binas—Did she not say the child would not be
quiet and that she could not pacify it ?
Mr. Rendle—Yes, I think she did, but I bad a great
deal of trouble to get any explanation from her.
Mr. A'Beckett asked when the inquest would be
held ?

Serjeant Golding replied—On Friday or Saturday,
but I have all the witnesses in court now.

Mr. A'Beckett—l think I have heard enough to re-
mand her until after the inquest, therefore she will be
brought up for final examination on Monday next.
The prisoner, who seemed in a very weak state, was
then removed to Horsemonger-lane gaol.

HORRIBLE MURDER OF A MAN BY
HIS WIFE AND SON.

One of the most diabolical cases of murder that have
ever disgraced the annals of this country has been com-
mitted within the last few days at Trowbridge. The
facts of the case as they were given at the examination
of the prisoners are, unhappily, too convincing to admit
of the slightest doubt ; for, extraordinary to relate, the
murder was actually committed in the presence of seve-
ral spectators. The name of the murdered man was
Daniel Napper, and on the Wednesday his son, James
Napper, quarrelled with another brother who had lately
returned from transportation. The father interfere d
to separate them, and incurred the displeasure of his
son James by striking him. On the following (Thurs-
day) evening they were all drinking together at the
Bear Inn, when a second altercation took place.
James Napper struck his father, knocked him down,
and kicked him severely. The wife then fell upon
her husband, taking hold of him by the hair and repeat-
edly striking his head on the ground, swearing she would
murder him. They all three then left the Bear Inn and
went towards home. What occurred after they left is
narrated by John Meyoll, the landlord, who says that
while he was standing at the door of his house he heard
some quarrelling going on, and saw the deceased knocked
down by his son, who struck him a blow with his fist.
While the deceased was on the ground his son knelt upon
him and struck him again several times; he then knocked
him severely in his ribs and side, the wife standing by at
the time and offering him every encouragement. The son
next took his father by the shoulders, raised him up to a
sitting posture, and then dashed him violently to the
ground, his head coming in contact with the hard
road. The deceased was then quite insensible. All
this took place in so short a space of time that the•wit-
ness said he had no opportunity to interfere. The son
came ,nto the tap-room some time afterwards, when he
did not appear to be intoxicated. 'Witness remon-
strated with him on his conduct, but he only replied
that " It served the old -- right," and that if he was
not dead already, he would not care about subjecting
him to similar treatment. This statement is corro-
borated by James Brown, a clothworker, who says
he was passing when he saw the deceased on the
ground, and saw his wife catch hold of Idm by the hair
and thump his head on the ground, saying, " By G—,
I'll murder thee 1" The deceased was then in a state
of insensibility, and the son afterwards took him by
the shoulders and threw him backwards on the ground
with all his might. Witness lifted the deceased
on his knee, but the son still attempted to strangle
him, and said he would give any one who took his part
a good hiding." The wife and son then left, but,
after they had gone a short distance, turned round
and said, if the deceased came home that night they
would "finish him off." The deceased, however, was
shortly after taken to the house, where he soon died.
William Peace, a mason, alsoAeposed to the same facts.
These circumstances having come before the coroner, he
made a preliminary inquiry, which has resulted in his
committing the son and the wife of the deceased to
Devizes gaol. The history of the Napper family is
very remarkable. The deceased was transpoited when
a youth for theft ; and in the year 1839 was tried for
the murder of a common pedlar, named William Bishop.
He escaped conviction owing to the informality in the
indictment. Dennis Napper, another son, has just re-
turned from transportation. The inquiry before the
coroner has been adjourned.

A DANGEROUS ADDER.—KIRKCUDBRIGHT.—SEPT. 2.
—On Monday forenoon last a young woman, named
Isabella Beattie, while turning hay on the farm of Kirk-
bridge, in this parish, was bit by an adder on the outside
of the left heel. Mr. Turnbull, the tenant of the farm,
immediately conveyed her into town, and medical aid
was procured. Her leg swelled very much, and seemed
for a time rather alarming ; however, she is now consi-
derably better, the swelling gradually abating. She says
she has often seen adders, but that this was a very large
one, and sprang at her hile she ran from it.
SOME ADVERTISEMENTS 170 YEARS AGO.—There are
a tolerable number of losses advertised ; the most nume-
rous relate to dogs and horses. For an extraordinary
small spaniel a guinea reward is offered ; and for grey
mares and bay nags the reward is always forty shillings.
This is the sum offered for a fat black boy, 18 years
old, in grey livery lined with green serge, green stockings,
and a grey hat ; a reward which, we hope, was never
paid. Here is a curious bit of costume. On Sunday last,
April sixth, sixteen hundred and eighty, strayed, a
child, three years old, in a red cap, striped gown, orange
petticoat, green stockings, and new shoes. When the
description of ~the person is added, the advertisement
often becomes very amusing. Thus, Nicholas Prick-
lowe, who has run away from his master at the Royal
Coffee Mill, in Cloth Fair, is described as a squat,
thick fellow, with lank brown hair. Mary Golding,
who has taken French leave of her mistress, the laun-
dress,
and with more than belonged to her, is described
•
as of middle stature, brown hair,
, and low, broad fore-
head. One Charles James is of middle stature, flaxen
hair, little curled pate, thin-faced, and full grey eyes.
Notices of tram erasr, supposede to have stolen goods
supposed to
in their possession,P
John Robinson'sfiofrequent, p.nd. sometimes a list of
property
wn'esre7ssislerion the following articles were
e stolen is published. Thus, in one
women's point sleeves, a
found :—A
morning-gown. and mantle, some
gloves, a tabby print-watered gold and coloured fringed
coloured coat—what colour could
a sad minerum-
.hrolceosuld this have been ?—with
efdged with gold purl. But
frost buttons, and button,
both
of man
apprehension
ehnosrisoen,
of perhapsjeho
for minute descriptions
the following advertisement for them
Catchmead surpasses all. Twenty-four
middle stature, something haughtyn
very light-coloured hair, more like a short perilittl
beard, face somewhat reddish, by reason of the smallpox,
but of cheerful countenance. Reused to wear a grey .Phaxt'
a sad-coloured coat, and used to travel about the country
to to sell rugs and coyerlids. He went off with a bay ma f
and thick fore legs, hooked nose, and mare
long body,
countenance. Only the accustomed forty shillings are
offered for the apprehension Of this remarkable pair,—
Dickens': Hauseltad Word'.