The Sun. — 1852-08-20 (London, England)

TWO WOMEN. SHEFFIELD, THURSDAY.—Sheffield is again the scene of one of those horrifying murders which startle a whole country. An illigitimate child, nearly two years old, has bad its head cut off by its father, who also attempted to murder its mother and another young woman. The murderer's name is Alfred Waddington, a grinder, residing in Lord-street, Park, Sheffield. He is about twenty years of age, the associate of notoriously bad characters, and he has himself been tried for highway robbery. The murdered child was called Elizabeth Slater, the daughter of Sarah Slater, of Brown-street, Park, and was about a year and nine months old. On Monday the mother took out a summons (which was to have been heard to-day) against Waddington for neglecting, to maintain the child. He saw her in the street on Wednesday, and he swore he would never pay another farthing towards the child. On Wednesday evening it was left in the care of a little girl named Barlow, while the mother went to attend the females' evening class at the Mechanics' Institution. About half-past eight Waddington appeared at the door of the class-room, and called out, " Sarah Slater, you're wanted." She went to him, and he asked, " What have you done with the child ?" She told him, and he then said, " You must go with me ; it has fallen off a wall, and has broken its neck." She immediately ran out of the room with him. On arriving in Sylvester-lane he said she need not trouble herself, for he had murdered the child. He pulled out a large clasp-knife, and he said, " Here's some of its blood." He then fiercely attacked her, and attempted to cut her throat. She guarded her neck with her hands, which were shockingly lacerated; and a little boy, who saw the struggle, called out, " Murder." Waddington then ran up Earle-street, and the poor woman was taken home. He was shortly 'afterwards met by a young woman named Sarah Dobson, who resides in Duke-lane, Sheffield-moor, a companion of the young woman Slater. Having heard rumours of the murder, and the attack upon Slater, the young woman asked him what he had done with her and his child. He at once,without answering the interrogatory, fiercely attacked her with his knife, and wounded her severely about the face. Her violent screams caused him to run away. About two o'clock this morning, however, he gave himself up to a night watchman, and at the Town-hall he described the exact place where the murdered child might be found. He said be took it from the little girl, Barlow, carried it into Cutler's Wood, Heeley, near Sheffield, and there cut its head off. At daylight this morning two policemen went to the place mentioned and there found the body of the child. Its head was lying several feet from its body, The prisoner was brought up at the Town-hall today at noon. Mr. Raynor, chief constable, having stated the charge, said the case would be fully investigated by the coroner. The Mayor (to the prisoner)—ls it your wish to go before the coroner's inquest, or would you rather not go ? The prisoner said he would go before the coroner. The prisoner, who was in his shirt-sleeves, on being placed in the dock, looked round on the spectators with great unconcern. When Mr. Raynor mentioned the charge, his firmness for a moment forsook and he covered his face with his hands.  [