The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1862-10-21 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

BATE—EXTRAORDINARY ATTEMPTED INFANTICIDIS. —An extraordinary case involving an attempt at infantide,but which was fortunately detected and prevented, csuie before the Bath nisgietrates on Wednesday morneise•li °metal, • young woman of respectable deineanour, was placed at the bar charged with attemptdog to murder a new born infant. l'he mother of the iinfant, named Caroline Nicholls, is in custody, but not hi a fit state to be brought up. The particulars of the ,case partake somewhat of an amusing character. It :appears that shortly after ten o'clock on Tuesday night ithree young women, named Hucklebridge, White, and :mother, were passing along the Gravel Walk, near the Victoria Park, when their attention was called to two females—who proved after to be Cawley and Nicholls --mear the bottom of the path; from their cries the three went towards them, and found Nicholls groaning, and in &or/edition that indicated that she was about to be conieed of a child. In a few minute, it was evident that the woman bad been delivered, for Caseley was seen to pick up an infant from the ground, and to throw it over the Park rails amongst the uhrubbery. The cries of the child tended to confirm the belief that the prisoners were attempting to get rid of it. Directly on this, Caseley was heard to say to the other "Now then," and both took to their heels and ran off. White and one of her companion& pursued them. Nicholls, extraordinary to say, escaped, Caeeley, however, having a larger bundle of wearing apparel, which hampered her progress, was overtaken at the corner of Gay-street, and secured. The women charged her with having thrown • baby over the rails, and desired her to go back and teke it out. She went back with them, though unwillingly, to the gravel walk, and then denied throwing the child over, but Hacklebridge had in the meantime scrambled over into the Park, and there found the child covered with some clothes, but which had not been fastened round it, 'it'Vreti asked if she did not hear the baby cry, Caseley did not reply, and threw down her bundle, saying she would not carry it any further. She was detained till the screams of the women attracted a policeman to the spot, and into his custody she was given. Hucklebridge wrapped the infant in her shawl, and accompanied the officer and his charge to the polies-station. Mr. J. Lawrence, surgeon, was at once sent for, and on attending performed what was necessary for the safety of the child. It was then confided to the care of the wife of Detective-Sergeant Berry. It I, a female child, and at present seems likely to live. Whether the rough treatment of which it was the subject has in any way injured it we have not heard. On being charged by P.C. Townsend with throwing the child over the Park rails with intent to do it grievous bodily harm Caseley replied " Yes." The name and whereabouts of the unnatural mother were subsequently ascertained. She was, extraordinary to say, found at her home, at Etatheaston, but, as may be imagined, wart In a sad state from the peril she had exposed herself to. As she could not be removed she him been placed under the surveillance of a policeman's wife. It is not • little extraordinary that both the women in custody are married ; and Nicholls has a large family. The reason alleged for the attempt to get rid of the child is that Ificholl's husband has been in Wales at work for two years past, end the child just born is the result of an illicit intercourse with another man. Caaeley, as we have said, was brought up before the Bench on Wedneediy, and some evidence having been given she was remanded for a week, to await the restoration of her monspanion to convalescence.