The Sun.
London, England, 1832-03-26 00:00:00

EXE.TER ASSIZES, MARCH 23.

CHILD MURDER.—Mary Kellaway was indicted for
the wilful murder of her new-horn female child, on the
12th of November last, by fixing a piece of tape round its
neck.

Mary Thomas, a married woman, of Devonport, came
to live in the lodgings with prisoner on the sth of Novem-
ber. I slept in the same bed with her. On the Sunday
atter, 1 went to sleep with my husband on board ship;
came back on Monday evening. I had before observed
that prisoner was in the family way. I slept with her
on the Monday night. On the Tuesday night .my husband
and I slept in that room, and th- prisoner slept in another
part of the house. After the Tuesday the prisoner and I
slept together as before ; we went to bed about eleven
on the night of the 12th of November. Prisoner got up
twice or three time. during the night; the last time she
stayed out a considerable time. There was no light in
the room. I heard no noise during the time she was
out of bed. I got up about seven in the morning; the
prisoner remained, and dressed herself in the bed.
While I was dressing myself, I observed blood on
the floor at the foot of the bed. I asked her what
made the room wet She told me she had spilt some
water. I then went down stairs, and the prisoner came
down shortly after. When she came down she asked me
if I would let her have a bit of my fresh butter. I said
she might, it was in the room we slept in. She went
up after the butter. She did not come down till I went
up after her. I found her washing the spots of blood in
the room. I went down and took the bread and butter
with me. Prisoner remained a short time, and then came
down. We bad our breakfast. I then went up stairs,
and she followed me up immediately. I told her there
was something the matter with her. Prisoner put a clean
sheet on the bed, and took out a soiled one, and threw it
into a small turn• up bed, and we left the room. I after-
welds went back to the room with Mrs. Macdonald. We
went to the small turn-up bed, and found a sheet and che-
mise ; there were marks of blood on them. We left them
there. I afterwards returned to the room, and found the
prisoner there. Mrs. Morrell and Mrs. Macdonald came
into the room. Mrs. Murrell said to the prisoner that
there was something the matter with her: they asked her
what was the matter with her. Mrs. Macdonald said she
had had a child. Prisoner said she bad not, and put her
hands together, and called God to witness that she
had not. Mrs. Macdonald went to the turn-up
bed to find the sheet and chemise, hut they were
gone. The prisoner came to Mrs. Macdonald, who said to
her " Keep away from me Mary ; if there is anything here,
I'll find it myself." In overhauling the place she found a
large flannel quilt, and Mrs. Macdonald said the baby was
in it; she opened it and found a baby. Prisoner desired
to have it covered up; it was then wrapped up again.
Mrs. Macdonald asked the prisoner what she intended to
do with the baby. I don't knew what answer she mate.
Prisoner had a sovereign which she offered to us (Mrs.
Morrell took it) to get a box to bury the baby. She said
we all had children of our own, and to look to her fur
pity's sake. She washed the child herself. She stooped
down to the head of the child. It was a fine child but
black in the face ; it was dead. Mrs. Macdonald had a
pair of scissors cutting the navel•string, and the prisoner
whipped the scissors out of her hand. Heard Mrs. Mac-
donald say, " This is what the jade has murdered her
baby with." Mrs. M tcdonald asked her if she had any
baby clothes. She said she had at her mother's. The
other woman persuaded the prisoner to go to bed, and
the child w is laid at the foot of the bed.
By the Jury—l only suspect she was out of bed a con-
siderable time, for I was asleep.
Elizabeth Macdonald—l lived in the same house with
the prisoner. She had been there several weeks. I saw
she was in the family way. I danced my child, and said
that was what she was coming to, and she said she called
it a pleasure. On the morning of the 12th of Novem-
ber Mrs. Thomas and I went up into the prisoner's room.
Prisoner was not there. Mary Thomas showed me the
sheet and chemise. There was a quantity of blood about
them. I then went to Mrs. Morrell, who went up stairs.
She called me, and I went into the room. Prisoner was
standing there. I told her she ;had a batty ; that she
was quite slender to what she was the day before; and
that she had thrown the child down the privy. She
said "So help me God, I have not touched it." I went
towards tire turn-up bed to show Mrs. Morrelll the sheet
and chemise, but they were not there. I began to take out
the bed-clothes. Prisoner was coining towards me. I said,
if there was any thing there I would find it myself. Under
the bedstead I found a large quilt, and in it a female chill.
It had no clothes on it. It was dead. I asked prisoner
what she intended to do with it, for I could not touch it.
She said she would wash it herself. Prisoner came and
knelt down to the child's head. I took a pair of scissors
and cut the navel-string. Prisoner took the scissors Out
of my hand, and turned round to prevent me seeing what
she was going to do. I saw her trying to undo a string
that was in different knots. She cut the string with the
scissors. It was about the child's neck. I took the string
from under the baby's neck. I said, " Look, this is what
the has chocked it with." I carried the string down