Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-09-22

eide was Investigated before Coroner's Jury,
which was convened at the instance of the moth
er of the dead infant, Miss Annie Sinclair. On
the 18th of August last, Miss Sinclair was arrest
ed on the charge of having destroyed her off
spring by burning, but the evidence not being
sufficient to sustain the charge, she was released
Saturday last she seut for the proper authori
ties, and jury was empanneled as to the death of
her infant, the dead body of which was then lying
in the house of her brother-in-law, Mr.. Howard
Grove The remains being examined by Drs.
Douaghe and Hanger and viewed by the Jury,
DR. Donaghe said it was impossible to decide
whether the child was born dead or alive, but
that its size indicated that it had been born at
maturity. Theadvaneed stage of decomposition
of the body, rendered it impossible to define cor
rectly the Gauge Of its death, DR., Hanger com
Cured 10 the statement OF DR.. Donaghe, and
added that the Gazing in of the head was caused
by decomposition. -., ,.....
Mr.. Jacob p Thornton, being sworn, said -
The body upon which the jury now sits is the
child of Annie Sinclair-she came to my house,
near Arbor Hill, last Thursday and wanted me
to come to town ON the next day-she wanted
me to help her bury the child-she said gentle
man advised her to get the. body Of the child.
She told me that the child would be sent to her
this was on yesterday morning-we were at
Mr.. gGroye's.s When night came she told me that
started she said she would meet the person who
would bring the child to her. I went with her,
but before we met the person she said that was
to stop. This was on Gospel Hill beyond the
extension Of the payement-the street lamps
were burning-I suppose it was 9 e'clock-may
have been mile or half mile from the lamp at
Gen Echols where we stopped-shs said that
wa to stop, that this person did not want any
one to some with her. She was gone few min
ntes when she came back with the baby-no one
was with her She said it was a colored woman
whose name she I'd not kaew who gave her the
child's body. She did not know where she
lived. She told me thai after she had been ad,
vised to get the child she had hunted tor several
days for the person, and when sne loana hei
said this person was to meet her with the child
am Miss Sinclair's brother-in-law.
rat this point The wrappings box. &C., (which
had been buried) in which the child vas, were
uncovered-the bag vase coffee or grass bag
with name on it.
Mr. Thornton continued-I buried these
things and they are the same wrappings ana Do1
in which the body was brought here. She saie
she had been charged with killing the child, bu
she had not done So. She told me that the rea
son she took the child back again was becaus'
she had been advised to do 80.
Mr.. Howard Grove said-I know nothing
about the matter. The body Was here at 10 ol
II o'clock last night, when calae home An
ME Sinclair is my sister-in-law, hence her pres
ence here. She came here sick some thFe6 week
| ago, and has been here ever since.
| Miss Sinclair-the motheFef the child mad
the following voluntary Statement before TIL
jury, I ~ = !. go. 90. % -. IA,
as Ithad been accused efbnrnlng " and wish
| ed to let the people know thatI was Innocent
l walked around hunting for the woman q week
and found her near the old Shoe Factory, an
told her that I wanted my baby, and she toll
4 me that she would meet me and bring 1t to me
l don't know her name or where she lives, an
although begged her to tell me her name sh
/ would not do SO. Ny baby was born dead"
After the investigation of the case, the jur
rendered the following verdict: grr.r
CRY OF STAUNToN To-w1T
4 An inquisition taken at the house of HowaI
Grove, in the jurisdiction ofthe City of Stauntor
on the 10th Of September, 1871, before ]. "
Todd, a Justice Of the Peace, acting as Coroner
J upon the view of the body Of an infant child {
Annie Sinclair, there lying dead, tho jurol
| sworn to inquire when, where, how and BY wh'
means the said infant child Of said Annie Sill
clair came to its death::upon their oaths do say
That said child came to it's death on or abol
: August Ard, 1871, by causes and means to Il
:, jury unknown-whether still born or born aliy
: to them not kaown In testimony whereof y
said Justice Of the Peace, acting as Coroner ar
: Jurors, have hsreunto set their hands this l6
Z day of September 1871: s.....-.s,.., 7.f
y. W. TODD, Up. 4 Act'g Cor,
,.,.,-S,,e Jno. NJ Hardy, Foreman,
R. W. Hardy, m. Carroll,
e r Cease rA G. A. Smith,
W. L. Fuller, =, ". H1loe.t,
J. F. Beard. ftJ9s-l.l y. q: " aaaei
C.P Lambert .. bagoy'
Timothy Honnihan.