The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-10 00:00:00

DIABOLICAL MURDER IN SOUTHWARK.

A murder of a diabolical nature has just been dis-
covered in the neighbourhood of Gravel-lane, South-
wark, which has created great excitement in the locality.
From a strict inquiry, it appears that about eight
o'clock on Monday night last, as a little girl named
Hannah Morley, residing at No. 6, Bear-court, Gravel-
lane, opened the street-door, she discovered a large
bundle lyicg on the steps. She raised an alarm, and on
the wrapper, which consisted of a flannel petticoat,
being removed, the body of a young female child was
found to be inside. The attention of Sergeant Golden,
7 M, was called, and the body was removed to the
workhouse, in Marlborough-street.
Information was forwarded by Mr. ICibblewhite, sum-
moning officer and parochial beadle of Christchurch, to
Mr. W. Carter, the coroner for East Surrey, who gave
directions for an autopsy to be made prior to the inves-
tigation.
...

In consequence of this order, yesterday Dr. F. C.
Jones, No. 174, Blackfiiars-road, proceeded to make a
post-mortem examination of the body. He found the
lungs of a bright and natural colour, and that they floated
when placed in water, also that the left lung crepitated,
and on the right were several dark spots, indicative that
there the air cells, though formed, were not expanded,
and which left no doubt in his mind that the child had
lived some hours after birth. The body was fully deve-
loped, and the umbilical cord was left about a foot long,
and not tied. The tongue, which protruded, was black,
as were also the lips and nose, There was a contused
wound on the right temple the size of a shilling, and on
reflecting the scalp, eccymose blood was found under the
wound. Dr. Jones says he was confident that the wound
was the result of a blow inflicted before death.
The case is in the hands of the police, and from the
statement of a man named Henry Rowland, who lives at
No. 3, Bear-court, it appears that a few seconds before
lie heard the alarm on Monday night, a woman came to
his door, and asked if a Mr. Braisley lived there. He
answered in the negative, and at the same time observed
a large bundle under the woman's shawl She went away,
and hearing the alarm, he ran into the court, and ob-
served the only person there, excepting the inhabitants,
to be the woman who had just before left the place, who
was making a speedy retreat from the court without
the bundle which she previously carried. This
aroused a suspicion, and the woman was traced, and
found at No. 8, Griffiths-rents, Bermondsey-street.
She was conveyed to the station, where she gave the
name of Margaret Duggan. The case not appearing suffi-
ciently strong against her, she was set at liberty, and
watched home by the police, and up to last night she
was under the surveillance of the officers, who are making
every inquiry, incognito, to bring the guilty and unnatu-
ral offenders to justice. It is expected that for more
safety the woman Duggan will be apprehended and
placed in safe keeping this morning until the result of
the inquiry is made known.

There are strong circumstances of a grave and suspici-
ous nature against Margaret Duggan. The one is, that
she had previously cohabited with the man Braisley, who
lives at No. 1, Bear-court ; and the other, that there are
at present two single females living with her at Griffiths-
rents, one of whom left her situation a short time since,
under the pretence that she was suffering from a severe
cough.
Up to last night the warrant had not been received by
Mr. Kibblewhite, and it is expected that
the inquest
will be held to-morrow afternoon.

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.—The
ploring expedition, under
esday.
Lieuteriant Kane, is announced
American Arctic ex-
and a full car o
to sail on the 16th of A
LIVERPOOL, Wedn PriL
stearn-shiP, Atlahti
ture hence this me/ West commander, took her depar-
morning, at 11.30,
----The United States mail
PRINTERS' go' besides the usual mails, on board._
PENSION SOCIETY.—The annual general
meeting of the friends to this valuable
institution,
Which and subscribersthe
purpose of giving
with 45 passengers
relief to aged and iwnfias fopuli'dedtersforand their widows, was
held on donday in the London Tavern, Bishto
Posf the
committee for the purpose of receiving the r
t. report
officers
committee for the past year, for the
businesselecio ;
Mr.
W.
for the year ensuing, and upon othermr.
( Hodson) read
Tyler in the chair. The secreta
the subscribers
the report, which, after congratulating
the society, stated that
on the prosperous condition
ofin the amount of annnal
there had had been an inerere37l.,
making them within
seriptions and donations of
for pensions. During the past year
171. of the sum paidb
n enabled to add 4751. 14s. 10d. to
the committee had
been enabled to add 4751. 14s. lod.
the fended propertY making the whole amount invested
• the funded property,
o errs for the Reduction of the National
with the Cominissigd.
There port, after making an urgent
Debt 6,2371. lls. -,
the friends of the asylum and to
appeal for support to
concluded by stating that N 9 pen-
' the public generally,
•and(l9males and
have already been elected, 52
sioners
. 3' 3 females, exclusive of those elected on Monday) are
nowovv receiving the benefit of the institution, includinn,
the Whittingham pensioner. The balance-sheet showed'
the total receipts (including a balance in hand of 50/.
15e. 64d.) to have amounted to 1,494/. Os. 64d., and the
expenditure to 1,338/. 3s. 3d., leaving a balance
hand of 1551. 17s. 34d. The report h
ceived and adopted, the meeting having been re-
ceived in I%
proceeded to the elec.
' tion of four pensioners from a list of 24
the two unsuccessful candid
candidates, and
candidates highest on the poll
having been chosen by the c •
oramittee as the Whittin
i ham and Fley pensioners, a g-
ito the chairman, which to vote
Of
thanks was passed
mated the proceedings.