The Express. — 1851-11-05 (London, England)

SOHO.—Yesterday afternoon Mr. Bedford held an inquiry in the vestry room of St. Anne's Church, Soho, respectiug the death of Mary Ann Mad:more, and her sou James, an infant of three months of age. The jury, having been sworn, proceeded with the coroner to No. 45, Greek-street, in the some parish, to view the bodies. On their return, it was resolved to proceed first with the ease of the child. lien/arta Houisegood woo thereupon called, and said that she resided at No. i, West-street, and knew the younger deceased, whew mother was the female whose death they had also met to inquire into. The father of the child was a musical printer. On Saturday last, at half-post seven in the morning, or thereabouts, she had occasion to leave the child in bed with its mother while she went out on an errand. On her return soon afterwards she proceeded to the room door which was occupied by the deceased, when she found the same locked from the inside. She knocked repeatedly, but without receiving any answer, when the father of the child came up, and at her request he burst the dour open, and they entered. Site then saw the mother of the child lying on the floor with her head extended towards the door. There was a pool of blood on the floor, and a carving knit, was partially resting on the woman's 'healder, and the blade was un the fluor. There was • considerable wound in the throat, and she appeared dead. Oa loukiug into the bed witness found the child therein with its throat also cut, and quite dead. Mr. Richard Utley Jackson, assistant to Mr. Marshall, a surgeon, said that he was called to see the deceased persons on Saturday night last, and on arriving found them in the manner described by the previous witness. There wai a deep wound in the woman's throat which had divided the carotid artery ; she was quite dead, and the upper cxtremi • ties were getting cold. lie next found the child in bed with its throat also cut. The wounds in the throats were quite sufficient, and be had no hesitation in saying had caused both deaths. The coroner at this stage of the inquiry said he would leave the ease in the hands of the jury,who would say whether they had heard sufildeat evidence to enable them to account fur the child's death. If they were satisfled on that point, and came to the conclusion that the mother had caused the child's death, they would have no alternative but to return the same verdict as if she were living. They would therefore have to say whether she wail guilty of murder or manslaughter. Respecting the condition of the mother's mind they were placed in the same position as the grand jury, and had not the power at the present time to entertain any question as to her state of mind. The jury having con' suited, they returned a verdict that the child was murdered by Mary Allll Illisckntore, the mother. The following evidence was then taken respecting the elder deceased:—Mr. Peter Marshall, surgeon, of 53, Greek-street, Soho, said that he had attended the mother of the child for mime days previous to her death. She had been in a very weak state, but there were no evidences at that time of insanity. After taking an opiate which had been prescribed, she complained of having seen a vision. If he had been asked the day before her death, he should unhesitatingly have said that her mind was strong. It was, however, probable that insanity or extreme lowness of spirits might have come on after he last saw her. Mr. Jackson, on bang recalled, said that he last saw the mother alive on Saturday morning about twelve o'clock. lie was then informed that she had had a very restless night. At that time she was crying. lie attributed her low state to the fact of her having suckled the child the greater part of the previols night. He also heard that she had been alarmed at some phantom. Mrs. liousegood, in answer to questions put by the coroner, said that the mother appeared remarkably fond of her child. The coroner having summed up the ease, the jury returned, as their second verdict, " That the deceased, Mary Ann Illaclunore, destroyed her own life, she being at the time in a state of uusound mind."  A