The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1825-12-06 (London, England)

UNION.IfALL.  ALLEGED CHILD 1%1 unnEn.—Yesterday morning, Moisey, one of the constables of St. George's parish, attended at this office, accompanied by a young woman named I(ary Kirk, who had presented herself at the watchhouse on Saturday night, and having inquired for the constable of the night, gave the following mysterious account of the circumstances connected with the death of • child, whose body was found concealed beneath some rubbish with. in a short distance of the town of Buckingham, and which she strongly suspected had been murdered : - -  Iloisey said that the girl came to the watchhouse between 11 and 12 o'clock at night, and in rely considerable agitatiun stated that she had recently come from Buckingham, which place she had left is consequence of an affair that caused her much anxiety of mind. tier object, she said, in voluntarily coming forward was, to ease her conscience of a burden which rendered her life miserable. Having given her name and place of abode, saying that her parents lived next door to the Flying Horse public-house in Buckingham, she went on to state thut, shout seven weeks ago, a woman with whom she was acquainted, named Elizabeth Ayres, called at her father's house at night, and having asked to see her (Kirk), said that she wanted very much to borrow a shawl. Kirk, observing something in the woman's arms, wrapped up in a thin handkerchief, resenttiling an infant, asked to see what it was ? but the other hesitated, until at length the informant insisted, and upon raising a part of the handkerchief she beheld the head of a child. She ( Kirk) expressed her horror at the sight,when Ayres said, " Hush, don't Kay a word; come along with me, get the shawl or you'll ruin me." The informant said, that being very much terrified she did as her acquaintance desired, and they proceeded together about a quarter of a mile from the town. Ayres then wrapped the shawl round the child, and walked over to a heap of dung lying by the road side, in which she deposited it. Having imposed strict silence upon the informant, they returned to the town together and separated. Three days afsevwasds a dog, belonging to the person under whose dung the infant was deposited, discovered the body, and when the fact became knowu, a great sensation was excited throughout the county. Marks of violence being perceptible on various parts of the corpse, the general impression was that it had been murdered. During the prevalence of this rumour, Ayres called upon the informant, sod proposed that they should both quit Buckingham together, and by this means elude detection, adding that Kirk was as much implicated as herself, and that if one was apprehended both would be certain of punishment. Informant believing this to be true, consented, anl having provided necessaries, absconded from her father's dwelling, accompanied by Ayres. On their arrival in town, having expended the little mpney they had on the road, Ayres conducted hor to St. James's-park, where they were under the necessity of remaining all that night on the benches. At an early hour the next morning Ayres left her, saying she should be back in half an hour. However, having waited during the whole day, that person did not'return ; and informant being pennyless, without a friend in London, wandered up and down the streets, until at length 11 a female accosted her, who having gathered some part of her history and devitute situation, conducted her to a house of an MI famous description in Kent-street, where she has been living ever since her arrival, having no other alternative. The unfortunate girl concluded her statement by expressing liter miserable state of mind, and that it was the circumstance of tier being privy to the concealment of the child that brought all her misfortunes upon her. The Magistrate (Mr, Swabey) questioned her very closely as to the account she gave at tl:e watchhouse, but the girl did not vary in the least 'from her former statement. A letter was then written to the Mayor of Buckingham, the 'Magistrate recommending an investigation Into the circumstances of the case. The informant was also supplied with the means of returning home.