Glasgow Courier. — 1853-01-06 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

RENDRE LOUD COCKBURN.  William Thomson pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with criminal intent, and was sentenced to be tranaported for fourteen years.  lIRDER. Margaret Bell was then placed at the bar, charged with the crime of murder, in so far as, en the night of the 16th or morning of the 17th day of N.,ovenaber, 1852, she did, at or near the bleachfield of Matthew Arthur & Son, Crofthead, in the parish of Neilston and shire of Renfrew, assault her female child, compress her throat, and throw her into • pond or dam, by which the child was suffocated or drowned. Prisoner, who was defended by Mr. Archd. Boyle, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Hugh M'Hugh examined—ls a bleacher in the employment of Natthew Arthur & Son, Croftheed. Was employed there on the 16th and 17th of November last. There is a dam connected with the works near the boiling-house. The dam is about six feet deep. Was at the side of it on the morning of the 17th November, and saw floating on the top something that looked like • bleacher's ehirtgown. Matthew Campbell took it out, and it was found to be a female child. The child was dead, sod its face swollen. It appeared to be about three weeks old. The child was taken into the works till Robert Hunter, police officer, came and took it away. It was about ten minutes past seven o'clock in the morning. The child was taken away about three o'clock that day.— [Witness identified the frock in which the child was dressed.] Matthew Campbell is a bleacher at Crofthead. On the morning of the 17th November hut his attention was called to something in the dam by last witness. Picked up a dead female child floating on the water. Its face bore the appearance of • drowned person. Took it into the workhouse and locked it past. Delivered it up to a police-officer, at half-past two o'clock that afternoon, in the same state in which he took It out of the water.— [Witness identified the frock and a small stripe of muslin cloth found about the child's neck when taken out of the water.]—Did not examine whether the cloth about the sack was tight or otherwise. By Mr. Borin.—There was one cap hanging from the back of the child's head, sod another left behind in the work.  Susan APl:lnks resides in Moss Street, Paisley. Remembers the prisoner coming to her house on the 16th of October to get lodging,. Did not know her before. Prisoner said she wished to lie-in in the house of witness. Was told by the prisoner that the father of the child was a country servant, and that it was to be taken away by him when born. The child was born on the let of November. Prisoner left the house of witness on that day fortnight. She took the child away with her, and said, on leaving, that she was going to stop with her cousin at Crofthead that night, and get a nurse for the child. The child appeared to be in good health. Was shown the dead body of a child on Thursday, 18th November, by Robert Ranter, sheriffofficer. The body was like the child of the prisoner. The prisoner's child was a female child. Did not think the mother was so kind to the child as she might be. Prisoner expressed herself as anxious to be rid of the child. I thought it was that she might get into &place. Ann Gardner is employed at Messrs. Arthur's bleachfield. Remembers to have been at Neilston on the 16th of November. Ilas heard people say that Neilston is half a mile, and Paisley live tulles, from Crofthead. Was returning from Neilston between seven and eight o'clock in the evening. Witness lives at Crofthead. There is a private road which leads from the bleachfield to the main. When on this road, on her way to Crofthead, heard a child cry. A woman was with it. I said to the woman in paining, don't let the waen greet. The woman did reply, but hushed the child. Did not know who the woman was.