The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-09 00:00:00

decision.
Alderman HUMPRERY—I am glad that Mr. Lloyd
has made the complaint, as my former decision has
been the subject of much conversation, and many
gentlemen consider that I have been right, while
others question the justice of the decision. I enter-
tain not the slightest doubt myself on the subject.
If conductors desire to receive no less than 6J., let
•them make it known by a placard inside. Tney can
charge Is. or 2s. to Kingsland, or any other neigh-
bouring place, if they like, by adopting that plan ;
but if they do they will certainly get but very few
customers.
The defendant was then merely required to pay the
expenses of the investigation, and was discharged.
MARYLEBONE.
HORRID CRUELTY TO AN INFANT.—Yesterday,
elnn Bird, a woman about 45 years old, and who re-
sides at No. 10, Horace-street, Eigeware-road, was
charged with having barbarously ill-used Ellen
Welch, a delicate-looking infant, no more than two
years of age, by flogging it with a thick whip.
Joanna Welch, the mother, deposed that she and
the prisoner lived in the same room, and that on
Tuesday last she (witness) went down to Billingsgate
to purchase some herrings, leaving her infant in the
prisoner's care ; upon her return, in the course of
three or four hours, she saw blood streaming from her
poor baby; she fainted and fell down upon the floor,
and was speedily raised up by some persons who came
to her assistance.
Anne Sullivan, another lodger, stated that at 10 in
the morning of the day alluded to, she was on the
landing close to the prisoner's room, when
she saw the prisoner lay the infant upon its
face on the floor, and beat it shamefully with a whip;
she then lifted it up, and holding it under the arms
applied the whip again to it several times. Witness
told her it was a cruel shame for her to use the baby
so ; when the only remark she made to her observa-
tion was, that it had been uncleanly in her place.
Witness added that she observed blood running from
the infant's nose.
The instrument of torture was here produced by
Jesse, the officer; it was a heavy leather thong knot-
ted, and somewhere about three-quarters of a yard
long, such as would be used in riding by a postilion.
The mother, who had the infant in her arms, exhi-
bited the state of its person, and the sight was shock-
ing in the extreme.
The worthy MAGISTRATE remarked that a case of
more horrid barbarity had never been brought under
his notice, and he should, therefore, sentence the pri-
soner to pay 51. • in default of her doing so she would
be sent to the douse of Correction for two months.
WORSHIP-STREET.
THE CASE OF SUPPOSED POISONING AT HACKNEY.
—Anne Merritt was placed at the bar before Mr.
Arnold, for re-examination, charged with the wilful
murder of her husband, James Merritt, a turncock
in the employment of the East London Water-
works Company, by administering to him a quantity
of arsenic.
The case appeared to have excited an intense de.
gree of interest in the district, and the court was in-
conveniently crowded throughout the investigation by
persons anxious to witness the proceedings and obtain
a sight of the prisoner.
The evidence taken at the former examination was
now read over, and the witness Mary Gillett, who
deposed to the sudden and serious illness of the de-
ceased, after partaking of some gruel which his wife
had prepared for him, although she had seen him in
apparently his usual health in the morning, and
which terminated in his death on the same night, was
uow recalled, and having been again examined at
considerable length, stated, in addition to her former
testimony, that on the Monday previous to the fatal
occurrence she had a conversation with the prisoner
on the subject of some money to which a widow
named Bartholomew, whose husband was a member
.of the same benefit society to which the deceased be- '
.longed, was about to receive on the death of her hus-
band, which had just taken place, on which occasion
the prisoner remarked, that if anything should happen
to her (the prisoner's) husband, she would be entitled
to the full benefit of 101., instead of receiving oil].)
71. 10s., which was all that was allotted to the woman
13artholotnew, in consequence of her husband not
having been sufficiently long connected with the so-
ciety to be entitled to more.
Alfred Andrews, summoning officer for the parish
of Hackney, stated, that on the morning after the
death of the deceased he proceeded to the house, where
he found the last witness, who observed that she sup-
posed there would be a coroner's inquest, to which the
prisoner replied, " I do not think there is any necessity
for it, as my poor, dear husband died a natural
death." On the Monday following, he accompanied
two medical gentlemen to the house, who intimated
that they were directed to make a post nzortent exami
nation of the body, in reference to which the prisoner,
who was greatly agitated, said that she had no ob-
jection to it herself, but that her husband had made
her promise that his body should never be opened ;
to which she added immediately afterwards, " Thank
God I am innocent ; if there is anything wrong 1
know nothing about it." The witness added, that
she had previously informed him that her husband,
the first thing in the morning, had partaken of the
liquor of some Irish stew, made over night, and sub-