Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1877-06-09 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE PEN-GE MYSTERY.  FURTHER REVELATIONS.  COMMITTAL OF THE FOUR PRISONERS FOR WILFUL MURER.  This morning the four prisoners charged with the wilful murder of Harriet Staunton were brought up before the magistrates again at Bromley. Dr. Coley, house physician of Guy's Hospital, was called, and said that on the Bth of April a child in a dying state was brought to Guy's Hospital. Mr Guy and Mr Straight here objected to the ease of the death of the child being gone into. If the Crown were going to urge a second charge of murder, the death of the child ought to be taken separately.  Mr Poland urged that in the case of Margaret Walters, who was hung for baby farming, a number of deaths were taken together.  The Bench overruled the prisoners' counsels  objection.  Dr. Coley (continuing) said the child was brought in a very emaciated state by a man and a woman. The woman said that it belonged to a woman who was not able to take care of it.  Sister Mary, a nurse in Guy's Hospital, said she was present in the Hospital when the child was brought. It was in a very emaciated state, and was brought there by a man and woman whom she now recognised as Mr and Mrs Patrick Staunton. She asked them its name and the man replied "Henry Stormton." She entered the name in the book with the m, and read it over to both the man and woman, and neither made any reply. When she asked the woman where the child's clothes were Mrs. Patrick Staunton said that it belonged to a poor woman who was not able to take care of it, and it had no clothes, and that they had brought it there only out of kindness. The child , did not belong to them, and they had nothing further to do with it. Witness said, "but the child is dying now; had you better not stop and see the last." The woman replied, "Oh, no; it has • nothing to do with us." They then left and the child died at 9 the same night in a very emaciatel state. On looking at it when it was stripped it appeared that it had not been regularly washed, it was in such a dirty state. Robert Hogg said he was an undertaker in Southwark. On the Ist of April a man, whom he now recognised as Louis Staunton, came to him and said his name was Harris; that he had come to make arrangements for burying a child lying dead in Guy's Hospital; and that its father was away at work for "the firm" in the country, and "the firm" were going to Lury it. He undertook to do it for 30s. The child was fearfully emaciated. The nurse and Dr Russell, who attended deceased. in her confinement, were next examined, after. which  Sergeant Bateman, who had charge of the case, detailed at great length a visit to Cudham, and interviews with the prisoners before they were taken into custody. He said that Louis Staunton, in reply to his question, said that deceased once had a child, but that it died a few days after birth. Mr Gye and Mr Straight declined to address the Bench on behalf of the prisoners Louis and Patrick Staunton.  Mr Lewis addressed the Bench to discharge M e Rhodes.  At ten minutes past four the magistrates retired to consider their verdict. After a deliberation of twenty-five minutes the Bench said they should commit all four prisoners on the capital charge.