The Sun.
London, England, 1822-05-13 00:00:00

MOST SHOCKING EVENT.

MURDER of a CHILD by its ITS OWN MOTHER ! !
Yesterday morning, about half-past ten o'clock,
a most sanguinary and horrid murder was perpetrated on the
body of a fine infant named Sarah Mountford, aged eight
months and a fortnight, by her own mother, Mrs. Ann Mount-
ford, at No. 1, Virginia-row, Bethnal-green. The father of
the child is a weaver, and highly respected in the neighbour-
hood for 12 years; he has been married between 16 and 17
years, and has a family of ten children; the eldest is a girl about
15 years old, and the youngest was the unfortunate victim who
was at the breast, and always appeared to be its mother's fa-
vourite. About ten o'clock in the morning Mr. Mountford went
to Bailey's Chapel, in Great Alie-street, Goodman's-fields; pre-
vious to going out, he desired his wife, who then had the baby
at her breast, to dress the younger part of the family as soon as
she could, and send them to the Sunday school, where they at.
tended every Sabbath day. He then left her apparently in good
spirits; and on going out at the door she held the baby to him,
and desired him to kiss little Sarah before he went, which he did,
and then went to Chapel. She then commenced putting her
house in order, washed and dressed the children, and dispatched
them to school ; the infant at her breast she also cleaned, and
afterwards herself. As soon as the unhappy mother had got rid
of the children, she went up stairs into the loom-room, where
the business was carried on, taking with her the infant at her
breast; and in a few minutes after she came down stairs, and
knocked violently at the parlour door, which was occupied by a
Mrs. Ilott. On the latter opening the door, she saw Mrs. Mount-
ford, the mother, standing in the passage, with her gown sleeves
tucked up to her elbows, and her hands and arms smeared with
blood. Mrs. Ilott, on seeing such a spectacle, cried, " Good
God, Mrs. 31ountford, what's the matter ?" To which she re-
plied, " Don't be frightened, I have cut little Sally's head off;
send for the Police officers, and give me in custody, 1 want
to be hanged ;" and so saying she walked deliberately into the
street, with her hands and arms in the state described. The
neighbours ran from their houses, and, on learning what she
had done, took her into custody, and delivered her into the
hands of the officers. The unhappy woman did not appear to
fear the least for the horrid crime. Search was then made for
the child, when, on some of the neighbours ascending the stairs
leading into the loom room, they were found streaming with
blood ; and on raising a trap-door at the top, they were horror-
struck at the terrific spectacle that presented itself. The body
of the little creature was found lying close to the edge of the
staircase. The head was severed, and lying about three feet
distant, and swimming in gore. The razor with which the un-
natural deed was executed was lying near the head. The unfor-
tunate woman was conveyed to Bethnal Green watch-house,
where she was visited by several gentlemen of the parish, who
put different questions to her relative to the horrid transaction ;
all of which she answered with the greatest composure and ap-
parent indifference. She conversed with great coolness, in
which she said, " Poor Sally was a beautiful little girl," and
that she loved her better than any of her other children ; she
was not distressed, and lived happy with her husband. She
stated that after she had washed and cleaned the baby, she first
took a razor from the cupboard and sharpened it on the hone and
strop. She then cook the child in her arms into' the loom-room
up stairs, and holding it on her knee, she held it by the head
with her left hand, and with her right cut its head off with the
razor and threw it away. Before she murdered the child she
tried to hang herself, but could not find a convenient place.—
Whilst she narrated the above she appeared quite unmoved,and
repeatedly asked if it rained. Mr. Welsh and Mr. Bowen,
surgeons, arrived at the house, and gave it as their opinion that
the head was severed from the body almost with one stroke.—
Collier, the beadle of the parish, was dispatched to give the in-
formation to Mr. Unwin, the Coroner, in order that an inquest
on the body may be immediately held. The body and head,
and also the razor, remain in the same situation they were
found, and-two officers are placed in the house. Vast multi-
tudes were assembled the whole of the day in front of the house,
and around the watch-house in Church-street, anxious to catch
a glimpse of the unnatural parent.

It is stated that a requisition to the High
Sheriff of this county is in course of signature,
for a meeting " to consider of a Petition to Par.
liament on the general distress of the Country,
and on the necessity of a Reform in Parlia-
ment."—Notwithstanding the distress which is
stated so generally to pervade the Country, it
is singular, but gratifying to learn, and we state
the fact from undoubted authority, that the guar-

terly collection of the Land and Assessed Taxes,
which has just been completed in this County,
was never made with more facility, or with a
smaller number of defaulters.—(Kentish Gazette.)

BIRTHS.

- -- - ----
On the 16th ult., at Riga, the Lady of Edward Jacobs, Esq.,
of a son.

The Lady of Joseph Walker, Esq., of Eton Lodge, near
Liverpool, of a daughter.
On Wednesday, the Lady of G. Lane Fox, Esq., M.P. for
Beverley, of a daughter.