The Sun. — 1848-09-30 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE. LAMBETH.  Yesterday, after the night charges had been disposed of, Spencer Lindfield (against whom a jury on the preceding day had recorded a verdict of " wilful murder," in having caused the death of Eliza Wilson) lifiry Ann Dryden and Richard Orpin, who also stand charged on the coroner's inquisition with being accessories before the fact, and also William Lindfield, the reputed son of the first prisoner, were again placed at the bar before Mr. Norton for further examination. The Court was crowded to excess, and during the investigation several county magistrates occupied seats on the bench. Mr. Robinson, the superintendent of the P division of police, said, that the greatest possible difficulty was experienced in obtaining any information relative to the female prisoners, particularly amongst sextons, gravediggers, land persons of that class, from their having been so intimately mixed up with them, and the dread on the part of those people that any information they might give would revert on themselves. Since the last examination he had received anonymous communications, which led to an inquiry touching two women—one who had been a servant near St. George's Church, in the Borough, who was traced to the house of Mrs.Lindfield in a state of pregnancy, but from the time she went there no further intelligence could be discovered of herself or her child. Another young woman, who was in a state of pregnancy, and who had received some medicine from Mrs. Lindfield, died. There was an inquest on the body, and in the absence of proof that Mrs. Lindfield had given the medicine herself, or any one procuring it for the unfortunate deceased, the coroner and jury were unable to establish any charge. Mr. Games protested against such statements as those just made being received, as they were calculated to create a most unfavourable prejudice against his client. Mr. Robinson observed that he had been directed to make a diligent inquiry into the matter, and he felt it to be his duty to state to the magistrate the result of his inquiries. lie would only state, in addition to what he had already stated, that there was a person in court who had been in the habit of supplying Mrs. Lindfield with small shells and boxes, and he would be able to state the number of shells for infants he had so supplied. Mr. NORTON thought the best course would be to take the evidence as far as it went, and (as the sessions at the Old Bailey;wouldnot be up for some time) remand the prisoners to a future day, to give Mr. Robinson and his officers time to pursue their inquiries. Mr. Games said, that as the three prisoners, Mrs. Lindfield, Dryden, and Orpin, would have to take their trial on the coroner's inquisition, he could have no objection to this course with respect to them, but with respect to the fourth prisoner, William Lindfield, he should apply for his release on bail as soon as the examination was over.  The evidence of Dr. Flower, divisional surgeon of police, was then taken as to the deleterous nature of the herbs found in the houses of the prisoners ; after whom  Henry Wheeler, th© gravedigger to the parish of Newington, was called and deposed that he knew the prisoner, Mrs. Dryden, very well. She had repeatedly come to the churchyard with stillborn children, and on those occasions she produced certificates signed by Mrs. Lindfield, as the midwife who had attended the mothers of the children. In reply to the questions of the Magistrate, the witness said that on such occasions the certificate of the midwife was considered necessary, and there was no account kept, as there was no necessity for registration or religious ceremonial over the body, which was buried as a matter of course. The certificates were given to the sexton, but he did not know whether he preserved them or not. Mr. NORTON directed that the sexton, and all other persons who could speak as to the number of stillborn children sent for burial by the prisoners, should be in attendance at the next examination, as this part of the inquiry would be very important. The prisoners were then remanded.