The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1867-08-03 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SUSPIICTED CHII.D MeltDEß.—On Wednesday afternoon, the l'ith July, a little girl, named Annie Maud Mary Hickton, aged one year and +AI mouths, daughter of Mr. John Hickton, of the firm of Houle.; and Hick. ton, nail manufacturers, wars toned drowned iii an open cistern at the back of her father's house. An inquest was held on the 19th and 24th July ultimo, but was adjourned until the 26th July; and, in consequence of the Coroner having met with an accident, was again adjourned until Friday, the 2nd day of August, at 10 a.m., at the Willey Hotel, on the Stourbridge•road. Fanny Brown, a nurse girl, Id years of age, and lately in the service of Mrs. Hickton, has been apprehended on the charge of murdering the child.—The case was heard on Friday, before Mr. F. D. Lea Smith —Mr. John s•eickton, father of the deceased, stated that the prisoner entered his service on the 213th of June. Her duty was to take care of the child. On the day in question, his wife was at Netherton, and in the afternam he was at his warehouse. At a quarter pest four, his other servant, Martha Millward, cause to him, and said the child we. missing. He went home, and after searching some time, found it floating in the cistern. Mr Moore, surgeon, was sent for, and every means used to effect restoration without avail.— Martha Poldtward, the other servant, said that when she missed the child, she asked the prisoner where it was, and not receiving a satisfactory answer, went for her master. Prisoner said to her at first, that while she had the baby on her arm, brushing her hair, it fell into the water. On the following morning, prisoner and she were at work together, when the foriner said," Martha, I feel so bad." Witness replied, " What's the matter, Fanny Prisoner then asked," Will they hurt me if I tell the truth?" Witness said " No," and the prisoner then said, "I picked baby up, and put her in head first." She added afterwards "Ito the truth, and nothing but the truth." She heard prisoner make a similar statement to Mrs. Lacy.—Mrs. Lacy was called, and said that prisoner had said she put the child into the water, and thought she would go to the bottom, and she thought she would never be seen more.—Elizabeth Jenne, Witley Villas, suit] that prisoner had assigned as • reason for drowning the child, that it had spoiled her dress when she was going to the Foresters' Fae ! —Mr. Homfray addressed the Bench ia defence of the prisoner, after which she made along statement, denying that she had drowned the child. She told Martha Millward that she had put it in because Martha frightened her into saying so, and said they would not do anything to her if she owned to it. Martha told her all about Worcester, and said sue would be pot into a dark place, made of iron, with chains to her hands and chains to her feed—Priso• nee was committed to take her trial at the next Worcester Assiz •, bail being refused.—The inquest was again re• sinned yederday, before It. Docker, Esq., Coroner. A number of additional witnesses were called ; after which Mr. Homfray made a powerful address to the Jury, who after a long consultation returned a verdict of "Found drowned."