The Sun. — 1862-12-23 (London, England)

SINGULAR CASE AT BATII. Sarah Caseley and Caroline Nicholls, two married women, were charged with attempting to murder a female infant child, at Bath, on the 14th Oct. Mr. P. M. Saunders prosecuted. This was a singular case, as will be gathered from the following facts— The prisoner Nicholls is a married woman, living at Batheaston, near Bath, and obtained her livelihood by washing and needlework. flex husband did not reside with her, but there was nothing to show that this arose f: om any domestic difference, the husband being engaged in Wales in his employment. Since her husband's absence, Nicholls became in the family wav, and was anxious to hide the fact from her husband, and from those persons who employed her. She communicated this fact to Caseley, who was a friend of hers, and Caseley promised to get a room in Bath, where she might give birth to the child, which Caselor was to keep for a short time, and then bring it to the house of Nicholls, who was to bring it up es 5 child she had taken in to nurse, thus having the care of her own child without its real maternity being known. On the night of Oct. 14, about ten c'clock, the two prisoners were seen going up 3 public walk, known as Gravel-walk, at Batb, there being rails on either side fencing off enclosures with. shrubs. A young woman, named Lucy White, who was standing near the entrance to the walk, heard ono of the prisoners, who was about 100 yards offf., groaning. She walked up to the spot, and noticed that Nicholls seemed to be in great pain, and was leaning against Caseley. The witness went a little way off, and stood under a lamp, where she could see the prisoners but they could not see her. Shie there saw something drop on the ground, and noticed Caseley wrap it up in a cloth. She heard a cry at the time, and she felt sure that it was an infant which was in the bundle. Caseley thell threw it over the rails, where it struck against a tree, and fell against some bushes. The child cried out, and Caseley said, "Let us run," and both the women made off. The girl White ran after thew, and overtook them at the corner of Gay-street: where she accused Caseley bf throwing the childi over the rails. Both prisoners denied it, and Nicholls ran away. The girl White still held 011 to Caseley, and a girl named Hucklebridge came up, and they compelled Caseley to come back to the Gravel-walk. The child was taken up by Huckle" bridge and conveyed to the station-house, Caseley accompanying them, in the custody of a policemen whom they met. The address of Nicholls was give°, by Caseley, and she stated she was the mother the child. Mr. Lawrence, surgeon to the Bath police, stated that he examined the child when it was brou," to the station-house, and found it covered wit: mould and leaves, and it had a slight scratch uPe' the left thigh. It was now doing well. The surgeon then proceeded to the house °f Nicholls, with Sergeant Berry, of the Bath police; They found her at Betheaston, where she must hay_ walked, and she was in her bed. He examined be and found she had been recently delivered. A statement, made by the prisoner Nicholls, Isl put in, and it stated she was going to a house Caseley to be confined, and was taken in labour; but she had not the least idea Caseley intended destroy the child, as they had some baby-linen with them for the child. that A written defence, put in by Caseley, stated she was going to a room with the child, but she ga;10 birth to the child in the Gravel-walk. Nicher. said it was dead, and she (Caseley) covered it °T.% When she heard it cry she ran back to take it u and did not attempt to leave. The jury acquitted the prisoners on the eh ar of attempted murder. ila They were then indicted for abandoning a eh under two years of age. tted The jury found Caseley guilty, and acqui Nicholls. The learned Judge sentenced Caseley to tWelle months' imprisonment with hard labour.