The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1863-01-20 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

CASE.— The quiet village of Piddletrenthicia has been the soene of considerable excitement during the past few days, in consequence of a report that the body of a child had been found in a privy at a part of the village called Long Bottom. The rumour proved °errant, and the police on makinz the necessary inquiries, made known the circumstances to the deputy-coroner of the district, 11. Lock, req., who on Monday afternoon held an inquest on the the Hew Inn, when the following evidence was .441444 P.C. !Limber said that on the previous dsy he was sent for by a person named Hannamcland froni what she stated lie proceeded to search the privy belonging to the house where the accused mother resided, where he found the body of • male child. It was • full-grown one. Superintendent Brown said that being informed of the circumstances, be went to the house of Julia Hunam, of Long Bottom, and charged her with the murder of her infant. She cried a good deal; but he °mild net underetabd what till rild. • John Harnett Dowling, .11.. said that be was practising as a medical man at Cent. Abbas, and was sent for to examine the body of the child. He could not at first say whether the child was bore alive, but after • Poce-storjewt examination, coupled with hie previous dbeerratiohe, Ia "Ps folly convinced it had come. its full time. The body w. 21 Inches long, and it weighed 7lbs. lOosa. The umbilical cord appeared to have been torn, not cut. On one side it was very dark. There was a small wound on the right side under the rib*, which perforated the akin,and appeared to have been done after death ; most likely by the pick when taking the body out of the privy. On opening the chest he found part of the tissues of the lungs of a bright minor. Other portions Were dprk, and thee he placed In water, when they sank, which showed that no air had pawed through them. The other organs were well developed. The vessels of the brain were much congested, and the autatance tuft, breaking with • alight pressure. There were no other mulls but the murk of the pick. Ils believed the child breathed imperfectly, and *as pot into the privy directly after birth. If the child had been born in the home, and then carried to the privy, the cells of the longs would have shown a different aspect. He also had made an examination of Julia Hannan, of Long Bottom. She was quite willing he should make such examination. He satisfied himself she had recently been confined. He asked her if she wialled to make any statement, at the mem time telling her that he shouleloonsider it his duty to report .the un.le to the coroner and jury. She glad that on Vrecilicate• week, the 31st ult , she felt an inclination to go to the privy, and while there she was seised with the pains of labour, and was delivered of • child, which fell into the privy. She neither heard it cry, or breathe. Her mother, and • person named Watts. were present when she mule this statement. He was of opinion that it was possible for • person giving birth to • child in the privy to return to the house. Thi3 was the whoje of thisevidenee brought forward, and the Baperiatendrnt applied for • postponemeet of the inquiry to enable him to mils. further particulars, which was agreed to—On Thunday, several other witnesses were celled, but the jury did not consider that there had been any offence committed within the cognisance of this court, and returned. veidict similar is effect to the girl's statement. She may, howener. yet be brought before the magistrates on the charge of owe ocalment.