The Sun. — 1862-09-26 (London, England)

REMARKABLE CASE OF ALLEGED  CHILD MURDER.  Last evening Dr. Lankester, the Central middlesex coroner, resumed an inquest at the Elephant and Castle, King's-road, Camden-town, opened 011 the 12th inst, touching the death of a newly-born male child, supposed to have been occasioned by violence. Rosa Clifford, an under housemaid, in the service of Mr. Scadding, 2, Gordon-street, Gordon-square, was alleged to be the mother of the child, and being too ill to attend, the adjournment took place in consequence, to enable her to be pre' sent on this occasion.  The Coroner opened the proceedings by stating that the inquest was adjourned in order to have the alleged mother of the deceased child before them, but she was not there, although it appeared she was in a condition to come.  Inspector Reynard, of the C division of police, said he was authorised by his superintendent to say that Rosa Clifford was in the custody of the police, and it was his duty to charge her before a magistrate. He could not allow her to attend the inquest without an order from the Secretary of State. The Coroner said this was the old story of a conflict between the Coroners' and the Police Courts. A Juror remarked that if that was the case, be could see no good in Coroners' Courts at all. Mr. Walter Scadding, of 2, Gordon-street, then gave evidence to the effect that Rosa Clifford was the under-housemaid to his family, She was waiting at their dinner-table at 7 p.m. on the Bth inst. As the first course was being changed she left the dining' room suddenly. The bell was rung for her return. She almost directly returned, but very suddenly left again.  The Coroner—l suppose she wore plenty of crinoline?  Witness admitted that she seemed to be wearing more crinoline than usual.  Other witnesses examined proved beyond doubt, that Rosa Clifford must immediately after her last sudden disappearance from the dining-room have given birth in her bedroom to the deceased. Mr. J. H. Brown, 55, Gordon-square, was called to attend Clifford that evening, and in answer to his questions she resolutely denied having been confined. On the following morning he again attended her, when his attention was directed to a box in her room, and in that he found the deceased. He per' formed a post-mortem examination of the body Externally there was a bruise on the nose, and the head was crushed. The two hones of the skull were extensively fractured from the top of the head downwards on each side. The lungs were only partially inflated. The crushed condition of the brain seem to have arisen from compression. The extensive fracture could not have been produced by the mere fall of the child from the mother on to the floor, but it might have been caused by the child falling on the floor and the mother falling upon it. The Coroner said it was now for the jury to say whether they should adjourn for the purpose of applying to the Home Secretary to allow this woman to be brought before them, or to come to a verdict at once. His present experience warranted him in saying that the Home Secretary might feel it necessary to refuse the application, and it was for the jury to say whether another opportunity should be given for refusal. A jaror thought that, as the girl had not been taken before any tribunal as yet, there could be no sufficient reason for the police to refuse her being brought before them.  The Coroner said he had issued his order for the girl to be produced, and the police had refused to permit it. He could issue another order, but 120 doubt the police could and would prevent its exe.cution under the existing law. He considered her presence was not necessary for them to find the cause of death, but he thought it only proper that persons implicated at a Coroner's Court should be present to hear what they were to be tried for. The court-room was cleared of strangers. The jury then deliberated, and finally determined to adjourn, for an application to be made to the Home Secretary for the production of Rosa Clifford.