The Sun.
London, England, 1825-07-08 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY IN VESTIGATION.

At eight o'clock yesterday evening, a most ex-
traordinary inquiry took place at the Regent's Arms Tavern in
Regent-street, near Vauxhall Bridge Road, before Mr.
THOMAS HIGGS, the Coroner for the City and Liberty of
Westminster, and a respectable Jury, respecting the death of
a fine male infant, unknown.
The subject of the inquiry has produced the most intense
interest in the neighbourhood, and whilst the investigation was
going on, the lower part of the house was filled with most re-
spectable individuals, anxious to hear the result and decision of
the Jury.
Mr. Frederick Holt, a surgeon of Holywell-street, West-
minster, deposed, that the body of the child which is the sub-
ject of this inquiry was brought to his house on Tuesday last,
about one o'clock in the day ; he was from home at the time.
but on his return, about two, he saw the infant. It was newly
born, arid there had not been the slightest care taken of it ; on
either side of the neck there were bruises, apparently as if caused
by something having been twisted round it to produce
strangulation. The skin was off immediately under the ear. It
is a full grown child, and in his opinion, from the lips being
very florid, the child had breathed, but he could not say de-
cidedly that it was born alive. He had very strong suspicion
that the infant had been unfairly dealt with, but whether negli-
gently or wilfully, he could not swear, and if the body was to
be dissected, no further information could be obtained.
John Watkins stated that he was employed as a porter at
Hatchett's the White Horse Cellar, Piccadilly. On Tuesday
last he received a small hand basket from the bookkeeper to take
the place directed. It was directed " Mr. Fricker, No. 6,
Vincent-street, Vauxhall Road." Witness took it there and
delivered it to a female at Mr. Fricket's house, who paid him
2s. for the carriage and porterage of the basket. Witness did
not know from what part of the country it came.
James Gardiner stated that lie was guard to the Southampton
night coach, that runs to the Bell and Crown, Holborn ; wit-
ness took the parcel amongst others at the Black Swan at Win-
chester ; it was regularly booked by Mr. Higgs, the landlord of
the Black Swan, and witness put it into the boot. It was di-
rected to Mr. Fricker, No. 6, Vincent-street, Vauxhall-road,
and on the arrival of the coach at the White Horse cellar he left
it there to be forwarded to its destination. Witness had not the
least knowledge of the contents of the basket.
Mrs. Mary Ann Marshall stated that he resided at Mr.
Fricker's house. On Tuesday last, about 12 o'clock in the
forenoon, a man brought a basket to the door, directed to Mr.
Fricker, for which lie demanded 2s. She paid the money, and
took the basket into the parlour; on opening it she found at
top a large quantity of paper, amongst which were several
leaves of a prayer book, and a most odoriferous fragrance ema-
nated; on further inspection, she found under the paper a quantity
of rose leaves, a parcel of musk, and other perfumes, and under
this, at the bottom of the basket, was something wrapped up in
two cambric pocket handkerchiefs, which were sewed up very
securely with pack thread, and on cutting the cord, she found
the dead body of an infant. She was dreadfully alarmed, and
communicated the circumstance to Mrs. Fricker, who was very
much agitated on learning the contents of tha basket. Mr.
Fricker is about 32 years old, and is confined to his bed-room
with a complication of disorders.
Juror--Have you any knowledge of the person who sent the
parcel to Mr. Fricker ?—None whatever.
CORONER—Has Mr. Fricker, or any of his relations, uny
friends living at Winchester ?—None that I am aware of.
CORONER—Nor has any letter been received from that place
prior to the arrival of the basket, by Mr. or Mrs. Fricker ?-1
know of none having been received,
Juror—Do you know of any female that has either lived
in Mr. Fricker's house, or that he has been acquainted with,
that has gone to Winchester ?—I know of no person, either
male or female, that Mr. Pricker is acquainted with at Wit-
chester.
Mrs. Fricker was next examined, but could state nothing fur-
ther respecting the basket than what had been deposed to by the
last witness, except that she declared she had rot the least conjec-
ture from whom the child came. (Here the papers that were
found in the basket with the infant were produced by Mrs. F. ;
amongst them were two leaves of an Act of Parliament, entitled
" An Act for the Uniformity of Public Prayers," besides some
pieces of brown and cartridge paper.)
Mrs. Fricker continued, that the basket was very peculiarly
sewed up, and at the end of every stitch there was a knot, like
those made by sailors, which is called a half hitch or double
reef.

John Weale, an officer of Queen-square, was next sworn.
and stated that in consequence of information having been re-
ceived by the Magistrate from Mr. Holt, the surgeon, he was,
dispatched to the Bell and Crown Inn, Holborn, and he there
saw the way-bill of the Monday evening Southampton coach,
on which was entered a basket directed to Mr. Fricker. The
entry on the way-bill was stated to be in the hand-writing of
Mr. Higgs, of the Black Swan, at Winchester. (Here the
witness produced the label that was affixed to the parcel ; it
was evidently in two hand-writings, apparently in a male and
female hand.) He had made all the inquiries he could further,
but could not ascertain any fact that would throw any suspicion
on any person who forwarded the parcel ; and Mr. Fricker had
caused hand-bills to be piloted, offering a reward of twenty-
five guineas for the discovery of the perpetrators of the horrible
deed.
The Gentlemen of the Jury having been told that there was
no other testimony to produce at present to elucidate this mys-
terious affair, they expressed a wish to investigate the business
to the bottom ; and it was unanimously agreed that Weale the
officer should proceed immediately to Winchester, to make fur-
ther inquiries, and to apprehend any person that he might sus-
pect were concerned in the dreadful offence.
The CORONER acquiesced with the Jury, and the officer was
empowered to proceed on his journey at the expence of the pa-
rish; and the investigation was adjourned at ten o'clock till
Monday next, and the Jurors were bound over in the sum of
401. each to attend.
The body of the infant was'produced on the table for the
inspection of the Jury, and was ordered to be preserved by Mr.
Holt till the inquest is resumed.