Widnes Examiner. — 1904-09-10 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THE ST. HELENS MYSTERY.  THE BURNDREDS CHARGED WITH  MURDER.  PRISONERS REMANDED FOR EIGHT DAYS  Another Exhumation.  The excitement created in St. Helens by the decision of the authorities to charge Joseph and Ellen Burndred of 38, South John-street, with the wilful murder of Sarah Ann Jones, a girl who had been entrusted to them by the guardians, was amply demonstrated by the dimensions of the crowd of people in front of the Town Hall on Monday, notwithstanding the fact that there was no hope of getting inside to witness the brief proceedings in the police court. Mrs. Burndred was before marriage a servant at the Waggon Hotel, Haydock, and her husband is well known among the colliers of the neighbourhood as " Staffordshire Joe." - -  When the girl Jones were first entrusted to them as foster parents the parties lived at 108, Parr Stocks-road. In February of this year they went to live at a shop 54, Rigby-street, and afterwards moved to 199, Sutton-road, from whence they moved to 38, South John-street, where the girl died.  The prisoners were brought before the magistrates at a quarter to twelve, Burndred wearing a black shade over his right eye. A thrill of horror ran through the crowded court when Chief Constable Wood told the magistrates that the two were charged that they at 38, South John-street, St. Helens, on the 7th ult., feloniously, wilfully, and of malice aforeEltought did kill and murder Sarah Ann Jones by administering poison to her.  The Chief Constable stated that Sarah Ann Jones was thirteen years of age, and was admitted to the workhouse in December, 1895. She was afterwards in the Cottage Homes, Fazakerley, up to August 29, 1901, and on that day she was boarded out by the guardians with the prisoners, who received a weekly allowance for her maintenance, and four days later she was insured in the Royal London Friendly Society, and on the first of February this year the prisoners also insured her life in the British Workman's Friendly Society. On July 29 last Dr. Bellew was called to the girl, who was ill. He attended her until death. She died on August 7, and he gave a certificate of death. The girl was buried at the St. Helens Cemetery on August 11. On the death of the child. the prisoners received £2O 12s. from one insurance society, and £9 12s. from another. On August 12, the day after the funeral, the police received information which caused them to make inquiries, and four days later they communicated the result of these inquiries to the coroner, and on August 20 he issued an order for the exhumation of the girl's body. Inspector Strong said that he saw the body taken up from the cemetery and taken to the mortuary. He was present at the post-mortem examination, and saw Dr. Unsworth place the viscera in six jars, which were sealed, and witness took them to the analyst. On Saturday forenoon last he arrested the male prisoner, and on charging him with the wilful murder of the girl, he said, "I have nothing to say; I know nothing. That morning he charged the female prisoner with the same offence, and she said, "It is not correct." Herbert Edwards Davies, analytical chemist of 26, Chapel-street, Liverpool, said that on Monday, the 22nd ult., he received the six jars from Inspector Strong, and analysed the contents. He found in the stomach, intestines, liver, and kidneys considerable quantities of arsenic, sufficient, in his opinion, to cause death. Mr. Riley said he appeared for the prisoners, but would not oppose their remand. They were therefore, both remanded for eight days. OPENING OF THE INQUEST, _ _  The inquest was opened on Wednesday onthe body of the child exhumed on Tuesday—Joseph Burndred, aged three months, who died on September 30th,1900. Only formal evidence ll of course, was taken. The organs of the body are now in the possession of Mr. Herbert E. Davies, analytical chemist, of Liverpool, who will submit them to analysis and report to the adjourned inquest. Meanwhile Joseph Burndred and his wife Ellen, who have been living at 38. South John-street, are in custody on a charge of wilful murder. He and his wile have been married for twenty-nine years, and are stated to have had thirteen chilhren. Of these only one is living, a daughter, who is about twenty-one years of age. In view of the tragic turn which events have taken. the police have taken steps to locate the graves of the dead children of the prisoners. They are now in possession of the particulars of ten of these children. All of them are stated to have died in infancy.