The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-18 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE AGAINST

A SURGEON'S WIFE.

Ann Booth, 27, was charged yesterday at the South
Lancashire Winter Assizes, before Mr. Baron Channel',
with concealing the birth of her own child on the 6th of
Sept. last. The prisoner was the wife of a medical man
practising in the neighbourhood of Swinton and Worsley.
It appears that the prisoner and her husband did not liv
happily together, and had occupied separate apartments for
more than 18 months before this event occurred. On the,
sth of September the servant discovered certain traces in
Mrs. Booth's room, which led to some inquiry; when the
body of a newly-born infant, wrapped in a cloth, was found
under the pillow. The first witness called was Jane
Hiles, who had been upwards of three years in Mr.
Booth's service. This witness deposed to the facts and
symptoms which came under her notice.—Under cross-
examination by Sergeant Wheeler, it was elicited that this
witness was the only female, besides Mrs. Booth, who
slept in the house. Mr. Booth kept his carriage and a pair
of horses ; he also had a coachman, but he did not sleep in
the house. The house of Mr. Booth had but one chamber
story, and some of his rooms were separated by nothing
but lath and plaster partitions. Witness remembered Mr.
Chadwick being in the surgery with Mr. Booth on the day
above named, and about 3 o'clock the same day Mr. and
Mrs. Booth dined together as usual. After dinner, prisoner
was kept in the library in custody of a police officer until a
cab came to convey her away ; and when she went to her
bedroom to dress, for the purpose of going, the officer re-
mained at the door until she was ready, and then she, in
the custody of two officers, was taken to the police station,
a distance of three miles. There was a night-bell which Mrs
Booth usually answered, and on ascertaining what was
wanted, she communicated with Mr. Booth. Witness was
daily in the habit of being with her mastery ir the surgery,
sometimes for an hour or an hour and a half. She occasion-
ally assisted to make up medicines, and she knew that Mr.
Booth made up some medicine for Mrs. Booth, which she
took twice on Wednesday, Sept. 4.
Mr. Wroe, surgeon, Eccles, was the next witness called.
On the 6th Sept. he went with Chadwick, the police-officer,
to Mr. Booth's, about 5 or 6 o'clock in the evening, and in
company with the police-officer, went to the door of Mrs.
Booth's room, but at first they were refused admittance, the
prisoner wishing to know wlat they wanted. In the course
of a few minutes Mr. Booth directed the officer to break
in the door. After some time they gained admission, when
Mrs. Booth requested to know why the officers had been
brought into her room, and Mr. Booth, in reply, said,
" You know, Ann, you have given birth to a child, and are
endeavouring to conceal it." The prisoner replied by in-
quiring what reason there was for the suspicion. (Ser-
geant Wheeler here objected that the course of examina-
tion was improper, as it might be presumed the prisoner
was then speaking under the coercion of her husband.)
The learned judge inclined to the opinion that as far as
the examination had proceeded the evidence of Mr. Wroe
was admissible. His lordship, for his own satisfaction,
however, went to consult Mr. Justice Crompton; and,
on his return, said Mr. Wroe's evidence, "so far as it
had gone," was admissible. Mr. Wroe's examination was
then resumed. Witness asked the prisoner some
questions ; and, after a short time she went to the bed,
turned it down, and from under the pillow produced the
child wrapped up in a cloth, which was perfectly free from
stain. Witness went on to state the details of the conver-
sation between himself and the prisoner respecting the
birth of the child.

Cross-examined by Sergeant Wheeler—Mr. Wroe said
he thought Mr. Booth must have had opportunities of know-
ing that his wife was about to give birth to a child. Mr.
Wroe found the prisoner in a weak condition, and he ordered
her to take wine. She must have been very ill before he saw
her.

Superintendent Chadwick and Sergeant Lee corroborated
the evidence previously adduced as to the apprehension,
&c. Sergeant Lee admitted, under cress-examination, that
Mr. Booth brought him to his house about three years ago,
when there was something unpleasant about a woman.
At this stage Sergeant Wheeler submitted that there
was no case for the prosecution, and after a few remarks
by his lordship, the jury instantly acquitted the pri-
soner, the Foreman saying they were perfectly unanimous
in their opinion. Mrs. Booth, after bowing low to the
bench, was then discharged from custody.

His lordship sentenced the following prisoners :—Emma
Norris pleaded guilty to a charge of two burglaries at Pen.
nington, and was sentenced to 15 months' hard labour;
John Evans, who pleaded guilty to a charge of forgery at
Liverpool, was sentenced to 6 monthe hard labour ; Robert
Jones pleaded guilty to a charge of foTging a receipt for
money in Liverpool in October last, and was sentenced to
6 months' hard labour.

COUN2BY MARK.L2 )5".

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LEEDS—DEc. 17.

Arrivals of wheat moderate. There is a growing feeling
that the American difficulty will not be easily settled, and
holders of wheat ask advanced rates from Friday, but the
millers d 4 not willingly comply, and the few transactions
are at the full prices of that day. Fine heavy barley was
in better demand. Beans and oats more inquired for.