The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1865-12-16 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SENTENCED TO DEATH.  My dearest Mary,—l fortunately saw your sister this morning. I dare say she has by this time given you my message. In great haste, dearest pet, as lam writing in a shop. Why do you niit wish to love me I—With fondest love, dearest, yours ever, There was also a fragment of a letter of the 2nd August, 1863, in which there were these words :  At the Leicestershire Assizes, on Saturday last, before Mr. Justice Mellor, Eliza Adkins, a careworn looking woman, described in the calendar as 42 years of age, was arraigned on the charge of the wilful murder of her son, four years of age. It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner, daughter of a regpectable farmer, was the widow of a collier, who met with his death by injuries received in a coal pit accident, and had endeavoured to maintain herself by going into service, her son at this time being in the care of a sister. Her circumstances, however, were so far reduced that she found it necessary, in company with her son, to take refuge in the Loughborough union workhouse, where she remained for about a week. Finding the restrictions of union life and the separation from her child t,-)o irksome, she discharged herself on the 28th of July last. She walked a distance of eight or nine miles to the village of Whitwick, where she rested in the cottage of a labourer, named Castle,line. After remaining for upwards of an hour, she started again on her journey, carrying the child, who had fallen asleep, in her arms. She was not seen or heard of again until the following morning, when she aroused the inmates of a cottage at Thringstone, about six o'clock in the morning. On being questioned, she stated that her child was buried, and it had died of the crimp. About this time a labourer, named Henry Elliott, had occasion to go to a well in the same parish. He found several women surrounding it, and on looking carefully into the water, thought he saw the body of a child. He procured a ladder, and on descending found the dead body of a little boy, which he placed on a board, and conveyed to the village. llt was at once identified as being the prisoner's son. She was arrested on the charge of murder. While in custody, the prisoner made a statement to the wife of the superintendent of police, to the effect that she did it because of the ill treatment she had experienced in the union, and could not bear to see the sufferings of her child. On being taken before the magistrates, she made no attempt to deny her guilt, simply observing, "Through trouble I did it, because homeless and friendless." The jury immediately returned a verdict of guilty, and the sentence of death was pronounced.  , Dearest Mary,—l wish, dearest, what had happened between us had never been, I have been so unhappy about It that I should have been the cause. I saw you three years back, but never did I think that I should come to speak to you. And then came this one, about May, 1864 : My own Darling Mary,—Yon knew that your society is the only one I care about, so do not think I am shrinking from your sweet company. I told you perhaps, I could not come, and if so you can make an allowance for me. Whenever I am tempted, thought of you overthrows everythipg. Do not be angry, as I as. very sorry I shall not be with you this evening. l'ray do not cry; you know how it affects me when I see you bathed in tears. twill see you to-morrow at lunch time —With undying love, your attached.