The Dewsbury Chronicle, and West Riding Advertiser. — 1873-12-06 (Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England)

THURSDAY. THE HUDDERSFIELD MURDER.  Hannah Walker, 41, married, was indicted for the I wilful murder of Frances Walker, of Huddersfield, on the ',e,Gth of October last.—Mr. Wheelhouse prosecuted, and Mr. Whitaker, at the request of his lordship, defended the prisoner, who pleaded not guilty.—Mr. Wheelhouse, in opening the case, said the prisoner was to be tried upon the magisterial commitment, and the coroner's inquisition for the murder, on the 29th day of October last, of her child, which was about two and a half years old. The occurrence took place in Upperhead-row, in Huddersfield. The prisoner was a married woman, and up to the time of the occurrence she was living with her husband in a cottage in Astin's - yard, Upperhead-row, Huddersfield. It was perhaps unnecessary to go into the matters or circumstances connected with the family until the morning of the murder. On that day, about eight o'clock, or a little after, the child was seen by one of the witnesses, Mary Elizabeth Priestley, to be running about the yard near the cottage. eating a bit of bread, bright and perfectly healthy. Some of the neighbours a short time afterwards heard screams or outcries raised by someone, but from whom it did not appear. The neighbours went to the house occupied by the prisoner, and there they found the child's throat had been cut; also that the mother's throat had been cut. The mother had in her hand a razor smeared with blood. He thought it was right that in this case he should mention that the prisoner's father some years ago several times unsuccessfully attempted to cut his own throat. He believed at the time of this unfortunate occurrence the prisoner was under great depression of spirits in consequence of the loss of a child.—Ann Alyrner said she lived with her husband at Dam-side, Lockwood, near Huddersfield. The deceased child was the daughter of her brother Joseph, and the prisoner his wife. The child, at the time of its death, was two years and a half old, and named Frances. On the 29th of October last, in consequence of something said to her, she went to the prisoner's cottage, and there saw the child's (Frances) throat cut, and she was dead. The prisoner's throat was also cut. The prisoner had frequently latterly complained to her of rains in the head.—Cross-examined : The deceased Was the favourite child of the prisoner.—Mr. John Benson Pritchett, surgeon, Huddersfield, said on the day in question he visited the prisoner's house in company with Superintendent Withers. When he got to the house, a few minutes past nine o'clock in the morning, he there saw Frances Walker with her throat cut, dead. The prisoner was laid on the floor with her throat cut also, apparently lifeless; a razor lying by the side of her. In the case of the child, the razor had severed everything down to the spinal column, and the prisoner's wound was about five inches in length. He dressed the wound, and the prisoner afterwards asked for her husband in order to Esk his forgiveness.—Cross-examined: About three months ago a baby of the prisoner's died, he beait ueveid, and shegrieved much. The prisoner was suffering perpetrate ethue of the occurrence from a species of homicidal monantania murder,accacoumsed accompanied d by y shanddiemhpeuulspeprteossipeehrpeeflactation. A person suffering from this disorder might be drawn.) nby n i ritiotieialeeitmumputtlsae, violent they could not resistt act.—Mr. Price, gaol or control,a . . surgeon, agreed with Mr. Pntchett's remarks in general—Hannah Taylor, a neighbour, said the prisoner and his wife had lived on happy terms--Mr. Whitaker addressed the Court, nontemling that the deed was done whilst the prisoner 'was suffering under temporary insanity. His lordship. , then summed up the evidence.—The jury almost immediately returned a verdict of not guilty, on the ground of insanity, and his lordship ordered the , prisoner to be confined during her Islajesty,B pleasure.