The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-06 00:00:00

MOTHER.

LIVERPOOL, MONDAY.

About a fortnight ago an inquest was held before Mr.
Coroner Curry, on the bodies of Margaret Cochrane,
aged six years, and Catherine Cochrane, aged four
years, who were supposed to have been suffocated in
consequence of a fire breaking out in the room where
they were sleeping, in a low Irish lodging-house, in St.
Martin's-street. Mr. Kemp, the surgeon usually called
to give evidence in such cases, deposed that the children
had died from suffocation. The circumstances of the
'case, however, were of so strange a nature, and the an-
tecedents of the mother of so suspicious a character, that
the coroner's beadle, Mr. Blake, came to the conclusion
that there had been foul play in the matter. He had
ascertained by inquiry that the mother had had
five children by her husband, three of whom bad also
come to violent deaths, either by scalding or burning ;
that during the absence of her husband in America she
was sett to Walton Gaol, for three months, for larceny ;
that there shil gave birth to an illegitimate male child,
which was well when she was discharged, and that it
had never been seen or beard of ; and that a few days
after her release, a male child, of precisely the same age,
was found deserted in the street, and it died from expo-
sure. He examined the premises in St. Martin's-street,
and found appearances which led to the conclusion that
the fire bad been purposely made under the bed. He
called in the assistance of Mr. Arnold, of nose-vale,
who examined the other body, and his testimony gave
weight to the suspicions of the beadle. The inquest
was several times adjourned, and when these facts
were developed the coroner gave instructions for the
bodies, which had been interred in Walton Cemetery, to
be exhumed, and an analysis to be made of the contents
of the stomach. Up to this point the woman Cochrane
had attended the investigations, wrapping herself and
her thoughts closely up in her dirty and tattered shawl,
her expressionless face giving no sign of emotion. When
the bodies, however, were taken from the grave in which
they would not rest, she fled and has not since been seen.
This act was an indication of what would follow. Pro-
fessor Edwards analysed the contents of the stomach,
and found in each sufficient traces of oxalic acid to
account for death. The adjourned inquiry took place
this morning, at half-past 11 o'clock, when these facts
were evolved :
A Detective Officer stated at the inquiry this morn-
ing that he and Police-constable Surrey (No. 444) had
made every possible search forthe parents of the children,
having been in Woolton and Stockport, where they had
liveedftbmes.riy, but they had found no traces of their
wbrea
Detective-officer Eaton stated that the woman Coch-
rane had been several times committed for felony at
ng
Woolton. Her husband, it was explained, had not been
seeneelnn in
obtained
replyt h e
to
as
town
ajuror,sincet o
the theth
mode in which the poison had
been procured, owing to the great demand for oxalic
acid for various purposes.
The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against
Bridget Cochrane, and a warrant was issued for her
apprehension.

SALOON OMNIBUS COMPANY.—We are glad to hea
that there will be several of. the metropolitan saloon
comfort
f
t then
and have
convenienceomnibuses on the road early in February. The public
will
of judging of the great
mhas been provided for their
accommodation. po r ttuhnai
that y
The departures from the port of London for the Aus-
tralian colonies during the past week have comprised
five vessels—two to New Zealand, one to Melbourne,
one to Sydney, and one to Hobart Town, with an ag-
gregate capacity of 3,588 tons. The rates of freight ex-
hibit no material variation. In the general business of
the port of London during the past week there has been
little activity. The number of vessels reported inward
was 129, being 32 leis than in the previous week, while
the number cleared outward was 96, including 10 in
ballast, showing an increase of 7. The total of ships
loading for the Australian colonies is 58, being 5 less
than at the last account. Of those now on the berth 9
are for Adelaide, 4 for Geelong, 3 for Hobart Town, 3
for Launceston, 4 for New Zealand, 18 for Port Philip,
1 for Portland Bay, 15 for Sydney, and 1 for Swan
River.