The Sun. — 1849-06-08 (London, England)

HOP INTELLIGENCE.—CANTERBURY.—..The hops have made great progress in gr,wth daring the late warm weather; but being overloaded with fly and lice, it is next to impossible that they can recover, and the only chance is of fresh shoots pushing out. It was to be hoped that the slight thunder storms of Tuesday would clear a 'ay some of the vermin, but this effect is hardly perceptible. The rains were so partial as to have been cf little service in the hop gardens. The duty is laid at 80,0001., with every chance, according to the visitation's few years ago; of descending to half that amount. Oluerver.  how it happened, and she then told witness that she had drowned it in the copper boiler in the back kitchen. Witness the❑ asked her the reason for committing such a dreadful act, and as to whether she and her husband had had any previous quarrel ; but she replied that they had not, adding, that he was a good husband to her, and she went on to describe that she first washed and dressed the child, and then took it and placed it in the boiler of cold water until it was dead. Although the prisoner appeared to be in a melancholy state of mind, yet she did not betray any excitement or express any horror at the deed she had committed. The witness added that she had known the prisoner for the last 15 or 16 years, and was present at her marriage, seven years ago, at St. Helen's, Bishopsgate-street; and although she was always reserved in her manners, still witness never supposed she was labouring under derangement of mind. Before witness left the house she again interrogated the prisoner as to her motive for destroying her child, and she then replied that she was fond of it, and she thought she could not do her duty by it if it lived. Sergeant Litchfield, M division, stated that. when he was informed of the circumstance he repaired to the house, and found the prisoner and her husband sitting in the room, and thechild lying dead on the sofa. The husband appeared to be in great trouble of mind, and he informed him that when he went out the same morning, before nine o'clock, to attend to his duties at Guy's Hospital, he left his wife and child quite well, and that she mentioned to him that she was then going to wash and dress it ; that he returned home about two o'clock in the afternoon, and that when she opened the door for him she had the child in her arms, and when he observed its countenance and saw that it was changed, he asked her if the child had had a fit in his absence. The reply was, that the infant was dead, adding, that she drowned it at eleven o'clock in the copper. Her husband then asked her what could have induced her to murder their child; and her answer was that she did not know. The husband further said, that the prisoner seemed to be exceedingly attached to the child since its birth, and although she had exhibited a good deal of melancholy for the last four years occasionally, yet that he never heard her express any intention of laying violent hands upon herself or offspring. The sergeant added that he then questioned the prisoner as to her motive for committing such an offence, and she unhesitatingly told him the manner in which she had destroyed the infant, and pointed out to him the copper in which she had accomplished the act, and which at the time contained a quantity of water. She further said that she was fond of the infant, and that her fear was that she could not do her duty by it, and had therefore availed herself of the means of putting an end to its miseries. The sergeant added that he then took the prisoner into custody, and that she accompanied him without betraying any alarm, and that since her imprisonment she had not said anything on the subject of the murder of her child or alluded to the subject.