The Sun. — 1828-03-05 (London, England)

CORONER'S INQUEST.  On Monday afternoon an Inquest was held before T. STIRLING, Esq., at the White Horse, Parson'sgreen, Fulham, on the body of a male infant, supposed to be named John Walsh, who was found drowned, with marks of violence on his head, in a brook in a field contiguous to Parson's-green. Mr. Hotmes, surgeon, of Parson's-green, had examined the body of the infant, and found a contusion on the right temple, but not sufficient to cause death. In his opinion; the deceased child had died from suffocation. He had sitice'qUe'stioned the female, who is in custody at the workhOUse, when she denied that the infant belonged to her, nor had she suckled a child for near two months. Witness examined the breasts of the female, which he found full of milk, and was satisfied that she must have given nourishment to a child within 2+ hours from the time he examined her.  Juror—About what time do you suppose the infant had been in the water ?  Witness—l should imagine about twelve or fourteen hours.  Juror—What age should you take the infant to be ?—Witness: About a month or six weeks old.  J.. -Levicke, constable at Parson's-green.—On Sunday morning, between eight and nine o'clock, was informed by Ingerfield of a child being seen in the Eel-brook; he instantly proceeded to the place, and removed the child to tht house before-mentioned. Shortly afterwards he saw a female walking near the Eel-brook, as if in search of something ; he accosted her, and inquired if she had lost anything'! she replied, "No ;' when he told her he thought she had, for he had found the body of a child, which he expected belonged to her, she denied it. On conveying her to a place of confinement, she endeavoured to escape. James Wright, a lad of 16 years of age, son of Mr. Wright, ,of the King's-road, about. six o'clock, on Saturday evening, was in a field near the brook, driving some ducks from the brook towards home. Witness saw a female on the opposite side of the brook, with a child in her arms. He observed to her, "It is a dirty night, ma'am." She replied, " It is indeed," and inquired what o'clock it was ? He told her it was six o'clock, and saw no more of her.  Juror—Should you know the female again? Witness—Yes, I should.  Juror—Did you particularly notice her ? Witness —I did ; she had on a grey cloak, and a coloured gown underneath, the ends of which I could see.  Catherine Walsh, the accused, was here introduced into the inquest room, with several other females, when Wright instantly pointed out the accused as the same person he had seen on Saturday evening walking near the Eel-brook. The prisoner did not appear in the slightest degree agitated. She said, that she had lodged at a house on Saffron-hill, and mentioned some other places where she had lately lodged, none of which she particularized. She stoutly. denied that the child belonged to her; her child had been dead some weeks, and was buried in Marylehone churchyard the remainder of her statement was the same AS mentioned by Mr. Holmes, the surgeon.  The Jury, after a few minutes' consultation, unanimously returned a verdict of Wilful Murder against Catherine Walsh.  The Coroner immediately issued his warrant for her committal to Newgate. The prisoner is goodlooking, about 24 years old.  NAock