Murder At Forest-Row.
The Times, 1824-02-20T00:00:00

The following are further particulars of the cruel rnurder com- mlitted at Forest-row, near East Girinstead, in Sussex ea Saturday, which wve noticed in Thle Times of Wednesday: TAe infant child of a family named Sewell, of Forest-row, was on Saturday night missing from its cradle, about a quarter betore seven in the everiAn. Half ant hour previous to that time, the child had been seen in ijo nurse's arms. Immcdiately on the discovery being communicated to thefamilv, and to the village, that the bnother could not find tbe child, the whole neighbourhood, with a promptitude that does them great credit, offered to assist in looking after the child ; and the idea naturally suggesting itself that sonic child-stealer had carried it away, persons were sent out in every directioa to make inquiry, and to search every barn, stable, or hovel, in the surroundirig country. The girl, who acted as nurse-maid to the child, during oll this in- quiry seemed to participate in the grief of the faniily, and at the same time protesting that shc knew nothing of the chuld, but that she had put it to bed at the usual time. She evinced also sorme very remarkable inconsistencies iu her conduct, whicb will of course -be more fully investigated by and by. During the whole of Saturday niglt the parishes of liart7ield, Wxithyam, Cowden, and East Grin.- stead, became the scene of the iost active researLh5 and upwarls of 100 persons did not go to bed al night. Unhappily for the suspen:,e of the parents, the washing.house was not examnined that night, the girl having pointedly declared that it bad been locked up previously to the loss of the infant. Albort seven o'clock however, on Sunuday msorning, a neighbour proposed to exarmine it; and on lifting up the lid o. thc copper, foand the dead body of the child floatiniF in the boiler. Cirmumstances led to the apprehension of the girl, front w.hom a coniesion of having accidentalIy let the child slip into the copper wa3s extorted. A Coroner's Inquest sat on Tuesday, at the Swan-inn, ;im was crowded 'o excess. Ur. Aleggins, one of the local uina*i- trates, together with Drs. Collins, Forster, and WVallace, aaa se- veral otlier medical and private gentlenien in the vicin ity, wrra4.re.. sent, and the most niinute exammnation of every circumstance-being moade before an intelligent jlry, it did not turn out that any Wotive; could be assigned for tne act, which seemned tb have bcen isrrpetrated by the gir wantonlyv and without any sort of prosocttion what.. ever, us if she had possessed some demoniatal and insade- pWonpef'i sity to niurder, of which many instances are on record ; rnd which, wheui uncontrolled by education and the fear of God, have- led noit. and then to sanguinary acts of the. most unaccountable atrtOcity :!' The jury having heard the evidence of the case, deliberated ii close retirenent till a hte hour in the evenbig, and returned a,-veri dict of WVitifuiAMurder against Hester G(orringe. The girl had been ta year in the servioce of Mr. Sewell, *athd bad always evinced great kindness towards the children; abe A onl 1i5 years of age, and of interesting appearance.. Dqring-'hjr congine- ument fshe has exhibited alterniate signs of. great detevmnitalon 'of character, and at the same time great, and indeed violk fetlinga f sorrow, and was surrounded hbyher own aflictedhi r 4l wil! am taofthe deceased infamt wh is ! 071}ony ?-i\nt l The S-lt is comnf7tted roliorshamgo,ob rsatvappro inna sazes. ! MUURDER AT FORST-ROW