The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-16 00:00:00

IHE SUS, LONDON, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16; 187 e.

'I'IIL CHARGE OF BABY' FOISTING.
EXTRAORDINARY DISCLOSURES.
At the Lambeth Police-court, Mary Hall was brought up
on remand, charged with foisting a child on George James
Loe, and further with exposing the infant so as to en-
danger its life. Mr. Poland, assisted by Mr. Moss, pro-
secuted on the part of the Treasury, and Mr. Lilly,
instructed by Mr. Rickets, defended. It will
be remembered that at the last hearing of the
case it was adjvurned for the purpose of securing the
attendance of the mother of the child, Mrs. Farrant. On
that occasion evidence was adduced, proving that upwards
of 200 diapers and other things marked with various
initials, had been traced to the prisoner's possession, and
that a bottle labelled " poison," and marked " white
heleborc," together with a pair or, drachm scales and
some pills in a box were found in her house.
Subsequent inquiries by the police induced the Treasury
now to place Mrs. Farrant with her husband in the dock,
on the charge of conspiracy with Hall to foist the child
on Mr. Loe. Mr. Mayo defended Mrs. Farrant, and Mr.
Belton the husband.
Mr. Chance asked whether there really was any evidence
against the Farrants at present as already given. If they,
believed the child was to be adopted for its benefit
there could be no charge of conspiracy. He suggested
that the charge should be withdrawn until some further
evidence was fcrthcorning against them. This was ac-
ceded to, and the evidence against Hall was continued.
Dr. Farr said he had examined the packages handed to
him by Inspector Mackay. There were three. One of
them contained white helebore, It was an irritating
poisod—a violent irritant. It was used very little for
anything.
William Adams said on the 22nd of October he con-
veyed the prisoner in hie cab to a beer-house in Com-
mercial-road, near New Cross. When she got into the
cab she had nothing with her. When within 150 yards
of New Cross she got out. It was near to Mr. Loe's
house. Witness waited there, and she returned in five
minutes, when he drove her back to the corner
of Smith-street. On the same day, two or three
hours afterwards, ho took her to the same place.
lie fetched her at the Anchor and Hope publichouse.
This was about a quarter-past three. Two parcels were
put in the cab, -and the prisoner got in with something
under her shawl. He again drove her towards New Cross,
and she got out at the place to which lie had driven her in
the morning. It was a wet day. When she got out she
took the two parcels, and that which was bulky under her
shawl. He left her there.
By Mr. Lilly : Couldn't say positively at which house
she stopped.
Mr. Moss said he thought it would be better to call
Mrs. Farrant, for the purpose of identifying the child.
Charlotte Farrant, wife of Henry Farrant, said
she lived with her sister, Mrs. Reeves, at the
Anchor and Hope beershop, Peckham. On the
22nd October she was confined of a female child. The
prisoner Hall was present at its birth. After she was
confined, Mrs. Hall took the child away, Witness did not
know where prisoner was going to take it. About three
weeks before Hall asked her if she would like a lady
and gentleman to have her baby, knowing she
was always very ill. She said it would have a good home
and be well taken care of ; also that witness could hear
as often as once a week how it was. After a fortnight's
consideration, being so ill after her confinement, she gave
her consent. She had no other metive but that. She
was not paid one farthing for the child, nor was there a
promise of any kind that she should receive anything.
The child was afterwards brought back, on the Monday,
night, by her sister, and she was very glad to see it
home.
Mr. Moss said he thought he had supplied the necessary
link, and, should ask that the prisoner be now committed
for trial on the two charges, viz., endeavotning to foist
the child on Mr. Loe, and of ',exposing it so as to endan-
ger its life.
Mr. Chance said he had no doubt that the case had been
made out on the first point, but at present he could
not say that the charge was made out as to-the second.
Mr. Poland said the Treasury had not thought right to
interfere actively in Mr. Lee's prosecution, but circum-
stances had come to the knowledge of the police which
would involve a more serious inquiry. In the course of
inquiries made into this matter, it appeared that the woman
and her husband had been in the habit for some
years past of keeping the house No. 6 Chapel-place, and
that they there received ladies for the purpose of their
being confined in that establishment, the woman being
the midwife. The police had been informed of a number
of persons confined there, and that in some of the instances
children had been born and not traced, while in other
instances children had been traced. It would be seen by
the evidence adduced whether the committal should be for
wilful murder or for secretly disposing. The man Hall '
was now placed in the dock with his wife, and lie (Mr.
Poland would put in the box a young woman who had
lived with them as servant,
Matilda'alarrett said she lived with her mother at Wal-
worth. She was 18 years of age. She was in the pri
Boner's service. Sho went there in February, 1869. They
lived at 6, Chapel-place, Coalharbour-lane. She was the
only servant; and remained in their service eight weeks.
She occupied the room next to the kitchen. Two children
slept with her, one was six, the other twelve. There was
a window in that room towards the garden. When she
first went there were no women lodging there. A woman
came to the house about a week after she went there to live.
The woman said she was in the family way. Sho occu-
pied the first floor. In the night witness heard a child cry.
That waif the same night the woman 'came. She watched,
and saw Mr. Hall come down down stairs, with a child in
its night-gown, go down the garden, and drop the chid
down a hole. Sne had -been in the garden that same
night about nine o'clock, and had noticed a hole near
the . fowl-house. The hole was a good depth, and if
witness had gone in she could not have been seen.
As Hall. came in he was dusting his hands.
He was in the garden half an hour. She couldn't say
whether the child was alive or dead when Mr. Hall had
it, but she heard it cry a quarter of an hour before. On
the following morning when she went down stairs she saw
sonic blood Oust outside the kitchen door on the steps.
The hole was quite filled up, and there was some lime
or some fresh mould. There was also some
blood outside in the garden in the direction of
the hole. . Hall came down at eight o'clock,
and wont straight to the hole. He walked back, and as
he came in through the kitchen he said to himself, " It's
all right." Witness took the person upstairs a cup of tea,
and there was no child in the room. The woman, after
remaining there some time, left. About a week or fort-
night after, another young woman, came in a cab. Mrs.
Hall Opened the door, and they went upstairs. Witness
went up into the bedroom next morning and saw a
young woman in bed with a child, living, which
was lying beside the mother. The next morning
witness went into the room and there was no
child. Mrs. Hall, on the day after she saw the child
, alive, went to a drawer in the kitchen and tiok out a
piece of brown paper and a string. The same day she
heard Mrs. Hall say to Mr. Hall, if Mrs. Waters should
come the was to be shewn into the parlour. Mrs. Waters
papae soon after dinner that day. Mrs. Hall came down
stairs With a brnSYll paper parcel, and gave it to Mrs.
Waters. They had been together in the front Parlour,
Mrs. Waters afterwards went out with the parcel under
her cloak. Mrs. Hall went with her, saying if she Was
rather late Mr. Hall was to give witness her supper and
go to bed. She returned between 11 and 12 o'clock. A
fortnight afterwards another woman came, and witness
left the service because she would not wash all the con-
finement Been. When she left the child of the third
won ft ESlfr SIIP aid licit know any of their names.
Donald rap ay, Inapector of I.IIIIIPP, proved going to
Mr. gall's house on" the 23rd of October. Mrs.
Hall Was then in custody on the other
charges. Superintendent Gertion, two other constables,
and Dr. Farr were with him. David Hall opened
the door. They told Hall his wife was in custody, and
also the charge. He became excited and said
he could not understand it. They searched the house.
Witness then gave evidence as to the discovery of
upwards of 200 babies' diapers and napkins, besides a
large quantity of babies' under-linen, with various initials.
On the 24th /mad 25th October he dug the garden up, and
found several pits that had been filled up with rubbish
and cinders. When David Hall was taken into
cnstedyt. sp was charged with the wilful murder
of an' mtant, name unknown, in February last.
He said, "I'm an honest man. What my wife did up
stairs Ido not know. She carried on her own business,
and I am not responsible for it."
On this evidence Mr. Poland asked for a remand. He
hoped to be able to trtioo the persons who wont to the
house to be confined,

The Madrid correspondent of the IncUpendanee Beige
says the candidature of the Duke of Aosta I not yet
secure from opposition in the Cortes, The Liberal Union
has not taken any definitive resolution, but It seems likely
that the most important mon of the party will vote
against the Government candidate or abstain from voting,
which will come to the same thing. Besides this, many
40puties are away from Madrid, and show no inclination
to answer the ptosi.ing that has been made to
them. It is the Ministerial deputies who will fait The
Opposition are gathered in great numbers.

For some time past the attitude of the independent
Russian press has given great offence to the Cabinet of
Berlin, and caused steps to be taken similar to those
whlp4 tile remarks of the Indipm4cmcc Beige. It
w4s ANPPLO twit tbeiie jeUrratia 4tt4Gked Prussia with
too much vehemence. The reply wAs that hi questions
of foreign policy the Russian press enjoyed complete Inde-
pendence, and that no particular line of conduct could be
laid down for it. This would have settled the question,
but for the intemperate zeal displayed by some high
functionaries. The Minister of the Interior made some
observations to the Director of the Press, and requested him
to make some official remonstrances to the anti-Prussian
papers. The latter refused, and resigned his post. He
has been succeeded by one who is friendly to Prussia.

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THE WAR.

THE SIEGE OF PARIS.