The Sun. — 1862-11-29 (London, England)

CHILD STARVED TO DEATH.  An inquiry was held by Mr. H. Raffles Walthew, deputy-coroner, late on Thursday night, respecting the death of Margaret Jackson, aged one year and three months, who expired in the workhouse of St. George'-in-the-East, on Monday last, from the effects of starvation and habitual neglect. The case excited a great sensation in the neighbourhood, and the court was crowded. The mother of the deceased child is in custody awaiting the result of the inquest. the is also charged with a murderous assault with a poker upon a person named Johnson, who ventured to remonstrate with regard to the treatmant of tha unfortunate deceased.  Mrs. Eliza Howell, 27, Upper Chapman-street, St. George's, said, that Charlotte Jackson, the mother of the deceased, lived in her house since August last. On last Saturday witness heard the deceased crying as usual, and finding the door unlocked, she entered, and saw the child lying completely naked on au old flock bed, and in a frightful state f emaciation. To her knowledge the child had not been washed for a week previous. Witness communicated what she knew to the police. Mrs. Jackson was the wife of a person employed on board the ship David Malcombe, and she drew every month £2 ss. from the firm of Messrs. Dunbar. She also earned money at coat making. It was her constant habit to leave the child without food, and go out, locking the door, so that no one could get near to give it anything to eat. The child used to cry dreadfully, and witness used to take up food, but was unable to give it, on account of the door being locked. Jackson never left the child anything, but used to go out and get drunk for days together. Witness sometimes remonstrated, but was invariably abused and told to mind her own business. The door was sometimes left open, and witness used to give the poor child food. Deceased was, in witness's opinion, starved to death. Witness never saw the mother give it food but once, when witness handed her a bit of bread for it. Mrs. Theresa Johnson, who resided in the same house, said Mrs. Jackson was a bad mother, and never bought food for the child. She was not sober for the last five weeks. Before that time Mrs. Jackson was employed at coat-making by witness, who used to insist upon her giving the child food ; but since then she appeared to give it nothing at all. It used to cry piteously. Last Thursday witness said sae would fetch a doctor for deceased. The mother said she would have witness's life if she did such a thing, and seized a poker and beat her fearfully about the head, laying it open. She inflicted frightful gashes on the temple, the ear, and the side of the head. In attempting to protect her head, witness's arm was dreadfully injured, and witness was tendered insensible by the blows, and would have been killed but that some neighbours rescued her. (The appearance presented by the arm and head of the witness produced a strong sensation in court.) Mr. W. Royston, relieving officer to the union, said that on Saturday the last witness came to him from the police station, and informed him that the child was dying from starvation and neglect, 'and that the mother was then lying drunk. He sent to insist that the mother should present herself with the child, and she did so. He then had the child forcibly removed from her, and he gave her in charge to the police. The child was kept alive by great care until Monday morning, when it died. The Coroner said that great credit was due to the relieving officer for his promptitude in the matter. It was clear from the evidence, as given by the witnesses, that the mother was criminally responsible for the child's death, and he should adjourn the inquiry for the purpose of having her brought before the Court.