Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-18
HER OWN CHILD.
ANNA MARGARET MOyTAGU ARRESTED FOR
MURDER MOST FOUL.
She is he Daughter Of No5isman, But She Must
Sand For Her Crime NsysTihslsSS-NoSi
Ihuman Trsaimsaioia Child.

BELFAST, February IA dispatch
from COlerain, in County Londonderry,
forty-Seven miles from here, saws that
Mrs. Anna Margaret Montagu, daughter
OF Lord Robert MOutagu, was commit
ted for trial this morning, on the charge
OF causing the death OF her daughter,
Mary Helen Montagu, child only three
years OF age.
The greatest efforts were made 20
keep the matter secret, and 10 shield
the important family involved, but the
crime was OF such q shocking nature
that the servants and neighbOrS insisted
that Justice should be done, and there
seems 10 be a prospect that lady OF
the Moutagu family may meet death at
the hangman's hands.
IL seems that the child had been badly
used by It's gOverneSS, in addition 10
being the object OF the hatred OF It's
mother. The governess, for some child
ish escGpade on the part Of her charge,
locked the httle girl up in dark room
aud then informed the mother. The
mother became euraged at her little
daughters conduct and resolved 10 pun
ish' her still more severely. Going 70
the dark room, Mrs. MOntagu tied her
Child's arms behind her back with some
stout string and then connected the
other end Of the cord 20 ring Ia the
wall fastening her 70 the wall, in order,
apparently, 70 prevent her from moving
about while she was under punishment
After the mother left the child in the
position mentioned, the latter's cries
grew fainter and then ceased entirely.
q . n oh al "a
ceased crying came 20 the conclusion
that she had become recOnciied 10 her
Imprisonment, and that she had con-
CIuied that the less noise she made the
sooner she would be placed az liberty.
Three hours passed before anybody
thought Of going 70 the dark room. AT
the expiration Of that time several
knocks al the door failed 70 obtain re-
ply from the child, the door was opened
and the little one was found hanging
downward, the body being upheld by
the string fastened around her arms and
secured TO the ring, The child's face
was horribly oiscOlOred and distorted,
and a further examination showed that
she was dead, having been choked to
death.
Medical aid was sent for, but all ef-
forts 10 bring the child back to life
proved fruitless. The mother and gov
erness were in despair, but the physi-
elan, servants and neighbOrs who heard
Of the affair were furiOuslY indignant,
and insisted that justice should be done.
The result was that the police were IN
formed Of the tragedy, and a warrant
for the arrest OF the mother was issued.
When taken into custody, Mrs. Montagu
sobbed bitterly, aBd again and again as
serted that she had 20 intention Of TAX
ing the chid's life, that She was utterly
brOkenearted at what had occurred,
and that her sole object in fast
euing the child % the wall was 70
prevent her from kicking the
door of the room in which she had been
clufHed aud SO disturbing everybody in
the horse. Mrs. MOnJagu'S eXplana-
lions. however, did not satisfy the police
magistrate, and in spite Of the pleas OF
able counsel, she was formally commit
ted for TRIAL.
lis not generally believed that Mrs.
Nou,agu had any intention OF taking
her chiI's lie. IL is said, however,
that another serious instance OF cruelty
upon The part OF Mrs. MOutagu TO her
child will be disclosed at the trial, which
prom SEES 90 De one OF the most interest
log and exciting which have'Occurred
in this part Of the country for many
years past.