Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1878-03-15 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

CHA.RGE AGAINST A YOUN4 WOMAN.  .  At the Dorchester County Police sltation on Wednesday, an intelligent looking young won in, named Ann Sla ie, and aoparently about the A -CO of 23, was brought before Mr. Edward Pearce, charg d with nonce ding :he birth of her female chi d. Cho case was heard at the police station in consequence of the delicae condition of the girl not permitting of her being taken to the Shirehall.  Jie liv a with her mother, the widow of a labouring man, at Waddon, and the oircuinst woes of the charge agal•ist her were these :—On oviday last, the 9th of March, James Norman, a labourer, living at Waddon' and in the employ of Nll.B. Hawkins, went Into the al •set situate at the end of hi. ga,rden. sad noticing various marks and stains, was led to mike an examination which resu.ted in the discovery of the body of a female child in the soil. He made the matter known to his wife, whi, in turn, infornie.l M.r. bailiff..to Mrs. Hawkins, and the, the police were gent for. P.C. ehaffey, stationed at Portesham, on his arrival took out the body sold wa he I ii; and, having done in, discovered wounds lilt., oruieso the head and cheek. Several persons were about at the time, and among them the prisoner, who lives some 60 yar s away from the Closer, but COIIIII, as any one else conld. hive hat access to it. l'he nowt ibl male an examination, and discovered in a see nd closet belonging to the house of the prisoner's mother, other ma ks, which tppeared to have been partly washed away. There were also extensive appearances in the ground, which led between the t an. He enquired of the occupants of these houses if they knew anything about theca, and they all denied they did, the prisoner being mnoogst them. He then turned to her and said "You are the only young WOllll6ll in the amigo hourhood. and you are suspected." .she replied "1 sow nothing about it." He asked her if she would he examined by a medical ma and she raised no objectiou ; when he told her if she did and it was found it was not her, she would be exonerated. He accordingly brou_lht her and the body to the Dorohes.er Ponce Atation. Tile mother, Ann 'lade, was present at the time, and now, before the naa.;istrate, she i .entitled some articles of clothing, which the ,nstable had taken msession, as heloaning to her dauzhter, and also staated :he had ha i trer stln•  snd- axed hwr with bei ig in the family 4.ut she denied it. iier doughter went to work as lans.. on the tiatur.lay, aod retire L to her rest at the onlmary Ulna. Or. ilouti made an examination al the body, and found several bruises, but was of  opinion they had been caused by vermin biting the body. The child, he believed, had breathed, but .had scarcely come to maturity. He taxed the prison. r with having been a mother within the last 24 airs, and although she at first denied it she afterwards admitted it.. Supt. Batty afterwards charge I her and she then said "It is my child. I was confined last night, and I've told the doctor all about it." She was committed for trial.  An inquest on the body had been held on the previous Monday, before Mr. Deputy-Cproner Lock and a jury, of whom Mr. Joseph Robinson was foreman. Similar evidence was then g,ven, and the Coroner, in summing up, expressed the opinion the m-dical testimony dispelled the idea as to f ,ul play, and that there was not sufficient evidence to convict of murder supposing the case were sent for tri .1 at the assizes. He thought it but fair and charitable to come to the conclusion the affair was one of great neglect. At the same time, it was, be remarked a case of gross concealment. After considerable discussi .11 and hesitation the jury brought in an open verdict, and expressed the opinion the police ought to take up the case for concealment of birth. This, it is said, is the third illegitimate child of the accused.  --.1.1111140,