The Sun. — 1857-10-24 (London, England)

THAMES. CONONALING A BIRTH. —SHOCKING CAPIN. --Sophia Wright, a plain-lloking woman, aged 22, who appeared in a weakly cordition, was brought before Mr. Selle, ()barged with concealing the birth of a child, under circumstances giving rise to a strong suspicion that she had murdered it.  Police-sergeant Campbell No. 44 K, said an inquest had been held on the body of the prisoner's new-born child, and an open verdict was returned, that it was found dead, but how or by what means it came by its death there was no evidence before the jurors to show. Mrs. Jane Murphy, the lsndlady of a public-house in Star-street, 133wer Shed well, stated that the prisoner had been in her service about one month up to Sunday, the 4th Oct., and she had received a good character with her from her last employer in Milo-end-road On the 4th inst. the prisoner was Wren ill in the morning at breakfast, and said she had been insensible all night. The prisoner's illness appeared to increase until 12 at noon and she could not do her work. She seat her to bed, and gave her a glass of ginger brandy. Some time afterwards a child of witness's assisted the prisoner in her room, and cause down stairs and made a remark which indtacel witness to assist the prisoner, who said she war better, and would soon be well. Witness at osoe suspected the prisoner hel just became a mother, and told her there was something wrong. The prisoner stoutly denied there was anything wrong ; and witness, after making a eeareh, and being citable to find a child, again told the prisoner she hsd given birth to a child, and she again denied it. Witness then sent for a doctor, who examined it, and the prisoner then admitted having a child, and that it wag under the bed. Witness searched for it, but was unable to find it, but a neighbour discovered where the child was, Mrs. Harkness, ( f No. 7, Et t: -street, went into the prisoner's room atter the last witness had left it, and said to the prisoner, "Sophy, where is the baby." The prisoner said it was between the two beds, and raised one of them, took up the dead body of an infant, which had been flattened between the two bide, and laid it alongside of her.  Mr. James Hardy, surgeon, of Wapping•wall, maid he examined the body of a fa-grown female child, en the prisoner's bed, on the 4tk kfitant. He believed it had been born alive, and wonli have lived if the prisoner had paid the necessary attention to it at the moment of its birth. Ths arobilical cord had been violently torn away, and the child had bled to death. In answer to Air. &He, the witness said he did not make a post morten txamitiation of the body or float the lungs ; but it was his opinion the child was born alive. There was a great deal of fluidity and a large effusion of blood. He believed that the child bled to death, and that it was not suffocated by beinglplaced between two beds.  Police.Sergeaot Campbell, 44 R, raid he took the prisoner into custody in Wapping poor-house this morning, and ailed her whether child was Lora alive, to which she replied—•o No, I never heard it cry." He asked her why she concealed the child between the two beds, and she said she did not Imo .Tv what to do with it. He asked her how long the baby had been between the beds before Mrs. Murphy earns into her room, and she said she did not know, lie asked her who the father of the child was, and she answered that he was a barman at a public bowie in Mile-end, and bad lately gone to Australia.  The prisoner made no defence, and Mr. Sells, after requesting the chief c erk to take the depositions, forma►ly committed the prisoner for trial at the Central Criminal Court.