Northern Times. — 1859-02-23 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

MURDER OF A CHILD BY ITS MOTHER.—Yesterday, the deputy coroner was engaged for upwards of three hours in an investigation into the cause of the death of a child named Robert Henderson, ten days old, son of a single woman, named Jane Henderson. It would appear that the woman, who is not married, was admitted an inmate of the Workhouse about a fortnight ago, and that she was confined on _ _  Wednesday Week. The child was healthy, and well formed, and appeared to be thriving up to Thursday last, when it began to exhibit symptoms of pain, crying out very much, and refusing to receive the breast. A number of witnesses were ealled to prove this. Dr. Leather, surgeon to the Workhouse, deposed that he saw the child the day after it was born, and it was perfectly healthy. His attention was called to the child on Friday morning last, by one of the paid officers of the establishment. He examined it, and found some dark marks, which might have been produced by pressure of the thumb and fingers on the chest, and side of the neck, under the left ear. The umbelical cord appeared to have been lacerated. This must have been caused by violence. There were also two very singular marks on the body, one on the back and the other on the shoulder. The taring or laceration of the cord would not, in Dr. Leather's opinion, cause much pain, nor make the child cry out ; but the marks on the body must  have been caused by violence, which would give great pain, and cause the child to cry out. He saw the mother on Friday morning, and asked her how the marks had been caused. He accused, her of ill-treating it, and endeavouring to destroy it. This she denied. He examined her breasts, but found them scantily supplied with milk, and ordered the child to be taken away and suckled by some  other person. The mother was given into custody for illtreating the child, and was remanded at the Police Conrt. Dr. Leather saw the child every day until its death. His opinion is, that the cause of death was congestion of the lungs, arising from violence, and is quite positive that the violence necessary to produce the marks, caused the congestion. The Coroner then summed up, and after alluding to the salient point of the evidence, said he was indeed pained to think that there could only be one verdict returned, andthat was wilful murder. He however, left it in the hands of the jury, who, after consulting for a minute or two, returned a verdict of " Wilful Murder" against Jane Henderson. The witnesses were bound over to appear and prosecute at the next Liverpool assizes.  Despatches from the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands, from the Governors of the North American Provinces, and from the Governor of Malta, were received yesterday, at the Colonial-office. PRINCE ALFRED —The Euryalis, with Prince Alfred, arrived at Alexandria on the 12th instant. One of the finest of the Pacha's palaces was prepared for his reception.  We understand that Miss Blanche Damer, only unmar ried daughter of the late Colonel the Hon.. D. Darner, and sister to Viscountess Ebrington, is about, to be married to Colonel Haygarth, of the Fusilier Guards.  On Friday week, Lord Lyndhurst will call the attention. of the House of Lords to the Ro-ral Academy, and to the -proposal to remove the establishment from the National Gallery to a new situation, and the conditions of such removal.  A bill has been introduced into the House of Commons by Mr. M'Canli and Mr. W. Brown, to provide for the sale of grain, meal, flour, butter, and potatoes, and other agricultural produce, from the let of January next, by the pound arioirdupois, the score of 20 lb, the cental of 100 lb, and the ton of 2,000 lb,