The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-30
a CHILD MURDzRzss HANGED.
Execution OF Margaret Waters, a Professional
Child Murderer, in London-Eistory Of Hsr
Crime Her Last Moments on Earth
Extraordinary Firmno.s-C alcrast
the Executioner-S atament OF
the Culprit-Who arc
the "SinnersY'

From the London Post, Oct Eel
The last sentence OF the law carried into effect
nine O'Clock within the walls OF Horsemonger lane
Ja, the PRISON for surrey, within watch county her
onenee was committed. she was described In the
1 jan oooRs as widow thrty-lye years OF age, anu
| as having no occupatiOn.
| Tie whole OF the circumstances connected with
the crl ne 0r when the prisoner suffered Will be
iresn In the recollection oil the public. The case was
considered OF 80 much pubic importance from it3
peculiar character and great afro city, that the gov
ernnent took up the inquiry specially, and
the Attorney General was instructed to prose
cute, Sergeant Ba,lantne appearing in hi,
behalf at tho trial OF tho prisoner The
/ prisoner was convicted Of the murder of an
| ilIegitmate child, ABOUT two months old. named
Walter Charles Cowen, but there were five other r.
| dlctments charging her with the murder OF as many
other liegtinate children and the theory submitted
To the jury on behalf OF the crown that the prIs-
oner and her sister, woman named Ellis had been
for considerable time engaged in carrying on
regular system oil obtaining money by pretending TO
"adoptn or take the charge OF children, mostly ille
climate, with tue deliberate intention OF destroying
them as speedily as possible in order that large
/ amount or the money paid with them should re.
! main to the benefit OF The prisoner. Her sister
! was acquitted upon the charge Of murder, on the
/ ground that tho evidence did not oonouslveIy
establish that sac had taken an active part in the
gu ty proceedings but the prisoner, after inquiry
which lasted three days, was convicted by the Jury
| and left FOR execution.
! The brothers Of the prisoner, two In number, have
made very earnest endeayors, IN conjunction with
Mr.. Gilpin, NJ. r., ana Mr. Morley, to obtain COM
mutation Of the capital punishment and a respite
al al, events asked for, IN order to afford an
opportunity for satisfying Secretary OF that
the prisoner hal treated the children kindly. aud
that the evidence given at the trial az to their con-
dition was very much exaggerated; but the nnal re-
ply That was received was 10 the elec: that the gov
| ernment alter full consideration, were unable TO
discover any grounds for granting respite, and
| that the law must take its course. IL Is
always usual in cases OF capital conviction
for inc Home Secretary to communicate with
the learned Judge before whom the prisoner
case, aud the Lord Chief Baron, wac tried the prl-
soner Margaret waters, was accordingly a9piiel TO,
ana the reply sent TO the home oice TO the
gu M fnr
coming to the conclusion mat the jury had delivered
an erroneous verdict upon the evidence that was
lad before them, and that he could see any CIR
cumstaace that would JUSTIFY an Interference with
| the carrying out OF the sentence. Thls was, OF
| course, conclusive and q communication to the
effect that no delay could be accorded was immedi-
ately forwarded TO those who interesting them.
selves On behalf OF the cuprit.
Indeed. it was pretty well understood from the
first tnat the authorities considered the offence OF
such fearful character tnat IN the event OF con-
vction taking place, they were determined TO make
terrible example, In the hope that IL would have
OF wholesale and deliberate murder or INFANTS which
| they had reason, from the evidence that was dis
closed, 70 believe existed III TINS metropolis.
| EARLY LIFE.
The prlsoner appears 10 have been very well brought
/ up and 10 have received excellent education.
sac Is stated 10 be very wen connected, but
PLANTATION ever appears to have been given by her
OF the cause Of her being reduced TO the condition
OF poverty in which she Undoubtedly was wnen these
| offences wore alleged to have been committed. she
appears 10 have conducted herself remarkably well
ever since she has been In custody ana the Rev MIR
| Jessopp, the chaplain OF the prison. who mas been
almost constantly with her since She has been con.
| fined IN Horsemonger lane Prison describes her n,
| most intelligent and lady-llke person.
| FAMHY-RELfGioN.
;, An affecting scene took place at the prison on
| Monday, when the two brothers of the unhappy
woman took their last farewell OF her.
One OF lGe brothers and the prisoner had pre-
| vlOuSly plrta&en OF the Holy Sacramen..
| STATEMENTS.
| 1t would seem that from the moment when she
was taken INTO custody, which was originally upon
the charge OF neglecting to provide Tor children
entrusted to her, the prisoner has positively den ed
having any intention to cause the death of the emil.
| dren placed In her charge, and she continued to
make that denial down TO the very last moment.
On Monday night she expressed q desire to make a
written statement In reference TO her case which
| she said she anxously wlsnej 70 make public ana
she was engaged for considerable time in writing
| out the rather extraordinary statement which will
be found below, and which she addressed to the
Rev, Mr. Jessopp, and desired him TO take charge OF
1t and get IL published, as she SAID t contained a
| true statemelt or everything connected with her
| conduct 10 the children.
With reference TO the statement OF the prisoner
| which we append-it may be remarked that the
c0roner's jury. IN the case OF the children who died
after she was IN custody, returned verdict OF man
| slaughter only against her, the view OF the case
taken by them being that she did not intend to de-
stroy their lives, but that their deaths were occa-
| stoned by neglect and want OF proper food and
attention. The general impression In the court at
the trial was that the prisoner would only be
yicted Of manslalghter, and the verdict OF willul
however, upon which the prosecution relied In sup.
port OF the more serious charge was That having re-
| gard to the poor and impoverished condition Of The
prisoner, and her utter want OF means to pro-
vide for her own support 1t was utterly impossible
that she could have entertained any idea OF bringing
| up the children entrusted to her upon the misera-
| bic sum she received with them generally
about four poundsl, AMI that the only reasonable
inference that could be drawn from the facts
was that she must nave intended that the children
| should be removed out OF the way az speedily as
| possible, and that laudanum and want OF proper
food were the means resorted to TO insure speedy
and quiet death to the unhappy children. The jury.
no doubt took this OF the case, for the decision
they came To was arrived al after a very short de-
liberation.
| PREPARINo FoR THE ED.
Since the prisoner has been convicted she appears
to have taken very little nourishnent, and at lines
| she was Ia most miscrably desponding condition
and 1t was found necessary to administer stimulans
to her. Latterly however, her spirits appeared to
| return ana she was much more composed, and an
pearcd resigned tncer fate. Although she at first
| appeared to ENTERTAIN hope and expectation that
the capital sentence would not carried out, care
| was taken by those about her to endeavor to I'M
press her with the danger OF entertaining such an
Idea, rom the very serious nature or the charge,
and as the time approached She appeared to see the
fallacy OF the idea that she had entertained and
| came resigned TO what she then Considered aS the
| inevitable result.
On Monday evening when Mr.. Jessopp left to re-
tire to rest, she shook hands with him and smiled
and said, al shall be ready for you In the morning
She slept very little during the night and ut half
past seven O'Clock yesterday morning she sent for
Mr.. Jessopp, who has during the last few nights
stayed In the JAIL and requested that he would come
to her. He did so Immediately, and continued with
tho prisoner engaged IN prayer until the time ap-
pointed for the execution--Dine O'Clock.
| LAST MoMENTS--AT THE SGAFf0LD.
| Mr.. Abbott, the Under Sheriff for the county OF
Surrey arrived at the jail shortly after eight O'CLOCK
ments were commenced for the terrible occurrence
that vas about take place. The ecaffOld mad been