The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1888-04-14 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

MOTHER CHARGED WITH DROWNING  HER DAUGHTER.  A woman named Mary Holliday has lust been apprehended in connection with the mysterious drowning of a child in the Driffield Canal, and there is every probability of the details of a terrible tragedy being brought to light. It will be remembered that on Good Friday three men, named Thos. C. Sedman, Henry C. Seidman, and Thos. Warts, of Driffield, whilst fishing about noon at Snakeholme Lock, on the Driffield Canal. near Wansford, and about four miles below Dnffield, found the body of a, girl, about nine or ten years of age, entangled in some piles of the bywash of the lock. Sne.keholnie Lock is a lonely spot, far distant from any highroad. between large towns, and bow the girl came to be in the water nothing could be discovered. Tire body had the appearance of being well cared tor, and Superietendent Kelsey,whe had the matter in hand, gave it as his opinion that the child had been wrapped up to face a storrn; and Dr. _hews, of Driffiell, stated at the inquest that the child had been in the water some weeks. The iury returned an open verdict. Since that time Police-constable Smith has been most untiring in his efforts to clear up the mystery. On Monday night he arrested the Prisoner at Foston-on the-Wolds. and charged her with the wilful murder of the girl, who is alleged to be her illegitimate daughter. The prisoner, who is about 30 years of age, has been acting as housekeeper since last Martinmas to a joiner named Russell, residing there. Poston is a village about two miles away from the place where the body was found. The child up to the time of her disappearance was residing with her grandmother, Sarah Holliday, at Beeford, village about four miles from Foston. It is stated that the man to whom the woman acted as housekeeper had talked to the woman of marriage, but had raised some objections on account of the child. The police are very reticent on the question of the motive for the commission of the alleged crime, but the matter referred to may have something to do with it. The enquiries of Police.constahle Smith led hini to the discovery that some weeks ago, one night, the prisoner I went to the grandmother's, at Beeford, and I fetched the child away, for the ostensible I purpose of sending her to a situation at Leeds. From that time she was never seen alive again. The grandmother was shown the clothing I worn by the poor girl, and she at once declared them to be the clothes of her granddaughter. Pmice-constable Smith then proceeded to } °sem and arrested the woman. The arrest caused a hitie excitemeet in Dridield, and a crowd hung about the Police Station throughout the day. On Wednesday the prisoner was formally charged with the wain' murder of her child, before Mr Holt, at the Police Station, Driffield.— The following evidence was given :—Sarah Holliday, of Beeford, said: i am the mother of the prisoner, and have had the care of her daughter. Mary Beacon Holliday. She was nine years of age last January. About five weeks ago her mother came and took her away. It was a Tuesday, after tea, between five and six o'clock. Prisoner came before dinner and said something about taking her away. She said she was going to Leedi to a situation. A week afterwards I went to Foston, when the mother said they were going to take the child and bring her up. She said she hel taken her to Hull, and that two Miss Cooks had sent her there and taken the child to Leeds. The clothing produced was that worn by the chid when she left her honse.—Superintendent Kelsey said he was in a position to produce further evidence at a later date, and asked for a remaild.—A remand was granted to Wednesiley I next.—The prisoner was then removed to Had