The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1849-12-12 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

DREADFUL MURDER.—At Marylebone Police Court on Friday, Sarah Drake, a well-dressed woman, about 40 years of age was brought up in the custody of Sergeant Whitcher, of the Detective Police, 27 A, and Superintendent Kinder, on the charge of having murdered her child, Lewis Drake, aged two years. A lengthened investigation took place during which Mary Ann Bridge said—At eleven o'clock on Friday night, I searched the prisoner at the station house, and found upon her a gold watch and some silver. I asked her what she was charged with, when she at first made no answer, but presently said to me—" Are you a married woman?" I told her I was, and had a large family, when she said—" Then you can feel for me, and I'll tell you. It's all about a child." I asked her if it was a new born baby, and she answered it was not, that it was two years old, and she had hung it. I asked her how she came to do such a thing as that, when she said she did not know. A woman who had it to nurse, and to whom she owed a good deal of money, brought it to her, and she was afraid of losing her place. She did it (alluding to the hanging) in a moment, no one else being present. She then packed up the child, and sent it into the country, to her sister, to get it buried, and she thought that she (the sister) had made all the noise about it. She further said that she supposed she should be hung. The prisoner had no question to put to the witness who had been examined. She was ordered to be brought up again on Saturday week. In consequence of a statement to the effect that the police had cut off and sold some of the long and beautiful tresses of Mrs. 'Manning's hair, after her death, an investigation has taken place, from which it is proved that the police had nothing whatever to do with the bodies of the (riminals after their execution. It may lessen the romance of the statement to observe that Mrs. Manning's hair was remarkably short, and that the deficiency in this respect was made up by articial means. So much of the natural growth as appeared in any length was cut off—according to custom, we believe—by the surgeon of the prison, in whose possession it still remains.—Observer. Mas.MANNING'S LOVE Avvems—The Preston Chronicle states that Mrs. Manning, the murderess, about four years ago, was lady's maid to one of the guests at Rufford hall: that during her stay in the neighbourhood she indulged in several flirtations, and addressed to one of her beaux, an inhabitant of Preston, a letter of which the following is a copy: —"Ilaldon-house, the Bth April, 1846. My Darling Little Wm., with mutch pleasure I received yours, and I am verry happy to hear that you have lost your cold. I had begun to think you had quite forgot me by your verry long silence, for I thougt you must be in London. I would mutch rather you was in London, for I think Preston is mach too gay for you. Dear I think we shall go to London next month, and I should be verry happy to see you there, for I think to sate myself thare, and then I should be able to see you offen my little Dear, for I am quite werried of this dull life. Dear Win. I should very mutch like to have your likeness, as you did propose to me at Rufford, and I will give you the original one in returne. I wish you to make up your mind to go to London next month. You do not tell me how your friend is, and what your douin your self.—Darling, remimber me to your friend, and believe me for ever your most affectionate lover, Maria De Roux." [Under the signature is a small seal.] "My Dear, write me soone, and please to allways take notice of my seal as I fear, and let me know if there as been any other sent but my own. Good bye, God bless you, my little Dear Wm."