The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-03 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Oct. 1.

WORSHIP-STREET.—Sarah Jane Wiggins,
aged 24, was charged with having caused the death
of James White, three years of age, under circum-
stances of an unusually revolting character. The
prisoner resides at 4, Clarence-cottages, Hackney.
Emma Scott said—l am married. My husband
is a labourer, and we lived in the same house as the
prisoner. When I first went to the house a man
was living with her ; his name was James White,
and I always supposed he was her husband and the
father of the child. He left last Tuesday three
weeks, and she has been alone since. I think he is
a groom, and that he has left to go out of town with
the family he is engaged with.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—What is the prisoner's name ?
Witness—She passed by that of White up to
Wednesday last, when she said it was Sarah Jane
Wiggins, and that sho was not married to White.
I saw the unfortunate child alive on Tuesday last,
and I did not see it alive afterwards. At half-past
one o'clock on that morning the prisoner went out
At 11 o'clock I heard the boy scream, and I asked
the eldest girl what was the matter with him. She
replied that he wanted some tea, and I told her to
give him some. About half-past two o'clock I
heard him scream again, opened the room door, and
saw the boy dressed and walking about the room.
The prisoner was not there, but the boy's sisters
were ; one nine years old and the other seven. The
boy was a little more than three years of age. He
had been under the doctor's hands for an abscess in
the face. I saw no bruises about him. Never ob-
served the prisoner use violence towards him. On
the day I was speaking of (Tuesday), I went out
about five o'clock in the afternoon, and when I re-
turned about six o'clock I found he had been put to
bed. Prisoner came home at a quarter to eight
o'clock. She went to that room. I heard her go
upstairs and I then heard heavy slaps as though
given with the opedhand, but I heard no scream.
After that I saw prisoner come downstairs and go
out, taking the eldest girl with her. She returned
in about half an hour, it being then about a quarter.
to nine. The following mornin gI saw the eldest girl
come downstairs, and at 20 minutes to 8 o'clock I
heard heavy slaps above. They were repeated five
or six times.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Did you then hear any scream
or cry ?
Witness—Neither. The prisoner was then up-
stairs. About half-past 8 o'clock I heard prisoner
come downstairs, and saw her pass my window in a
great hurry, almost running. She came back in a
quarter of an hour, went upstairs, returned directly,
and screamed at the top of the stairs. I went to
my door and asked " What is the matter ? She
replied, " Oh, my little Jemmy has gone." I said,
" Oh, dear me ; not dead ?" and she answered,
" Yes ;go and see." I ran up, and saw the child
with its clothes on lying upon the bed. It was
quite still. We both went downstairs, and the doe
tor entered as I was going out for assistance. I
was then about a quarter to 9 o'clock.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Now, be careful.
prisoner say anything ?
Witness—When the doctor was there she said
she could not account for the bruises. I saw the
bruises then ; and after he had gone she told me
that the child had been very weak—relaxed in the
.aside.

Did the

Mr. D'Eyncourt—Have you observed her con-
duct to the children ?
Witness—l have often heard heavy slaps, never
seen them given.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Did you hear anything about
the child being tied ?
Witness (with some hesitation)—Last Tuesday
week the prisoner told me that during the past
night the child had been relaxed in his inside, and
made much mess. On the next day, Wednesday,
she told me that the child had made no more dirt,
and she did not think he would again, as she had
punished him. I asked "In what way did you
punish him ?' and she answered, " I took him up-
stairs when the other children went to bed, and
after he was undressed and had said his prayers, I
tied him to the bedstead, with his hands fastened
down." I said, " Oh, Lord, you surely did not keep
him there all night ?" and she answered " Yes, I
did, until 7 o'clock this morning."
Fanny White—l am nine years of age. This
woman (prisoner) is not my mother. I remembcz
mother dying, but don't know how long since.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—What is your father ?
Witness—A gentleman's servant ; he has left us
three weeks last Tuesday.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Did you ever beat your brother?
Witness—Oh no, sir.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Do you know how he came by
the bruises on his face and head ?
Witness—No, sir.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Did you ever see this woman
beat him ?
Witness—She used to take him upstains, so I
could not see it. I know that she slapped my sister
once.

Mr. D'Eyncourt—Now tell me the truth, and
don't be afraid. Did you ever see her tie him with
a cord?
Witness—One night she tied him with a cord
like that (pointing to a sash-line attached to a win-
dow of the court). It was when we went to bed one
night; may be a week ago. She tied him to the bed-
stead with his arms behind him.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Was he dressed?
Witness—No, only his little " shimmy" on.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—How long did he stop there ?
Witness—When I awoke the next morning,
between 6 and 7 o'clock, he was still there; he was
awake, and still standing up.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—.Did you hear him cry ?
Witness—No, he only " winnicked" a little. I
think he was afraid to cry for fear he should be
punished more. He seldom cried. I believe she
used to beat him on his back. As he was tied be
was obliged to stand. Ido not think that shebeat
him that night she tied him up. He was punished ,
when he cried.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—What was he tied up for ?
Witness—Because he had been crying for water
all day.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—What did she do after she tied
him up ?
Witness—She went to bed. She must have un-
loosed him while I was down stairs in the morning.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Have you ever known him
tied up before that ?
Witness—l don't know.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Did you ever slap him ?
Witness—Oh no, sir.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Do you recollect the day before
he died ?
Witness—Yes, sir. When she went out she cut
us each a slice of bread and butter. He cried for
cake, and I gave him some of my food and tea.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—What happened that night—
the night before he died ? Do not be frightened.
Tell mo all the truth.
Witness—She took him up and shook him. She
tied him up that night in a different way. I am
quite sure of it. I think she stood on the bedstead.
(The poor little girl's attempt to describe what had
occurred on this occasion was for a considerable
period not comprehended. The skeleton of a four-
post bedstead was subsequently formed with pens,
and she clearly demonstrated by the aid of a hand-
kerchief doll the position in which the little sufferer
had been placed, viz., bound with three or four
turns of rope round the body on the cross piece of
the top of the bedstead at the foot). She then con-
tinued—His back was next the board, and his head
hanging down. I heard him " winnick " all night
nearly ; did not hear her speak to him.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—When was he taken down ?
Witness—Not when I got up in the morning ; he
was still there. I got up at the usual time. When
the policeman came I went upstairs with him, and
saw the little boy lying dead on the bed.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Did you ever see the cord
round your brother's neck?
Witness—l did not see it.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Do you wish to put any ques-
tions to this child, prisoner ?
Prisoner—No.
Mr. Edward Dennis Hucon, surgeon, of Rich-
mond-road, Hackney, said—l have attended the
deceased child. Unquestionably its death resulted
from violence. I have made a post mortem exami-
nation. I found the stomach perfectly contracted,
and manifestly without food for some time past,
although it had been well nourished. The imme-
date cause of death I believe to have been caused
by an effusion of blood upon the brain. I found
marks of a ligature round the head.
After some further evidence, the prisoner was
remanded.

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