The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-23 00:00:00

CIIILD MIIIIDEIL—At the Reading police-court,

en Friday, Mary Newell was placed at the bar, charged
with the wilful murder of her infant on the 9th August by
drowning it in the Thames in the King's Meadow. The
unfortunate woman came into court weeping and looking
very pale. She was accommodated with a seat near the
dock, and, although she exhibited little outward emotion,
yet it was evident from her appearance that she felt
ncutely, the- serious position- in- which she was placed..
A great crowd bad assembled outside theyediee-coatto while at
number of persons were present during the examination., all
of whom seemed to compassionate the unhappy prisoner, the

general impression being that she had been driven to despe-

ration, and had committed the act from the heartless treat-

cunt she had received. The evidence as given at the inquest
was read over to the several witnesses and confirmed, the

prisoner declining to ask any questions of either of them.

The usual caution _ baying been given to the prisoner,

she made the following statement :—I have known William
Francis these six years, and have been in service ever since

I knew him. I left Mr. he's last August, and came to
Reading to seek for another situation, and going home
I met with him in the street. Ile, knowing me, asked
me how I was, and if I would go and have some-
thing to drink. I refused, but by being persuaded I
went, and was in his company some hours. He asked
me if I was engaged, for he wanted a wife, but he did
not want to marry yet. He said his sister was keeping
his house. When we parted lie did not ask me my address,
or where I was going, nor anything, and I thought he did
not care anything about me, only for his own ends. I had a
situation, and I went to it. I stayed two months and a fort-
night, but I was so unwell I was obliged to leave. I came home
and stayed with my mother until I got better. Then I came to
Reading and told him bow I was, and asked him what I was
to do. He knew that I was in trouble by him. He said he did
not know what I was to do, for he was engaged. He could
nut have me, but he would keep the child. I said "Why
not have me as well as any one else ?" as he knew that I
was in trouble by him. After that I went to the union.
There I stayed until the 9th August. I came out with the
intention of going to Shepherds' Green, but I altered my
mind, and came to Reading, and got to Reading about
half-past seven. Ile was not in the shop when I went
there. llis sister and some one else were picking fowls.
I asked her where her brother was. She said he
would be in in a few minutes. He came in. I asked
wctargeiv whate
ul
I did ;
any t moor• He put on his coat and went out with the
him what Ile thought of the baby. I told him I wanted
ed— hehe did
would
dot
no
some money. I asked hint what he intended to do, and
what I
was asmigtohtdod.o
as Il e said
I li
person who was picking the fowls. His sister said it was
io use for me to wait, for he might not be home until
11 or 12, and being destitute of a farthing,, I
walked about to see if I could see anything of him. I
saw no tidings of him. The temptation was very
great to lead me t- do what I did. He so frowned on me
and the dear baby—which lie knew was his—it drove me
to do what I never thought of before. I went on the
road for home, and went inside a field and sat under a hedge
till morning, and on Tuesday I went home. Mother asked
me what I had done with it—where the baby was. I said I
couldn't tell her. I then told her I lied put it out. The
mayor, addressing the prisoner, said ; You are committed to
the county gaol to take your trial at the ensuing assizes.
ESCAPE OF A LUNATIC MURDERER.--It will be in
the recollection of our readers that, at the last Cheshire
assizes, Henry Bloomfield was charged with the wilful
murder of his wife, at Lyme Handley, by killing her with a
hatchet as she lay in bed. From the commission of the
murder to the day of his trial the prisoner had been con-
fined in the Cheshire Lunatic Asylum, and on being brought
into court the learned judge Mr. Justice Crompton ordered a
jury to be einpannelled for the purpose of deciding wheteer the
prisoner was in a fit state of mind to plead. The jury foand
"'That the prisoner is of unsound mind, and not in a fit
state to plead or take his trial," and he was accordingly
remanded to prison. A representation of the case was
made to the Home Secretary, and on Monday last an order
came for his removal to 13ettielelietn, St. George's Fields,
London. The medical attendant at the Castle thought it
would be unwise to handcuff him, and, in company with a
turnkey named 011erenhaw, and a boy who was on his
way to a reformatory school, he was locked in the second-
class compartment of a railway carriage, the train leaving
Chester at 10.45 a.m. Nothing particular occurred until
the train arrived at the Watford tunnel, which is a mile
long, and about seventeen miles from London, when, just
as the train was emerging from the tunnel, Bloomfield
gave the turnkey ouch a terrific blow, as to knock bini
senseless on his seat; and the next moment the maniac
disappeared through the window. He was seen by several
persons in the train to scramble up the embankment of the
railway, but all traces of him from the monient.disap-
peered. The train was going at the rate of 40 miles an
hour, and it is supposed that be can bardly have escaped
i
unhurt. There is an extensive wood adjoining
atfirst te spot
l that
where he made his escape, and it was thought
lie had secreted himself in it, though onsearching the
A wood with dogs, no trace of him was
ap discovered.rehension. The
re-
ward of £5 has been offered fob'.
imbi sonlypre turned late on
turnkey who had accompanied
been n search of him since
Thursday evening, having i
Monday.
ES —We last week reported
THEATRICAL 31ARRIAG •
the marriage of a young,
clever,
and most promising actress,
Miss Louise Mary Keeley, with M. S. Williams,•iams Esq. We
now, with pleasure, add the following to the" Happy List":
llarriett Gordon, the popular actress and vocalist,
' lon Wednesday, the 11th inst., at Bloomsbury
was MIMIC(
Church, reiss Es lieutenantin -
to James I)ombrain , q.,
•
Majesty's service, and soa of the late Lieutenant J. Weiss,
R.N. Mr. J. F. Verrall, lessee and clerk of the course at
Lewes, is to be united this morning (August 21), at St.
Pancras Church, to Miss Kerridge, sister-in-law to Mr.
Cathcart of the Princess's Theatre. Another interesting
union will shortly take place. We are informed, from the
very best authority, that Mr. Albert Smith, immediately on
his return to England, will be married to Miss Mary Keeley,
the deservedly-favourite little actress of the Adelphi Theatre.
—Era.
The little theatre in the Strand will be closed for.
a week preparatory to the re-opening, with Miss Swan--
borough's complete company for the winter season, grt bleu--
day the Gth September.