The Sun. — 1853-03-10 (London, England)

DIABOLICAL MURDER IN SOUTHWARK.  A murder of a diabolical nature has just been discovered in the neighbourhood of Gravel-lane, Southwark, which has created great excitement in the locality. From a strict inquiry, it appears that about eight o'clock on Monday night last, as a little girl named Hannah Morley, residing at No. 6, Bear-court, Gravellane, opened the street-door, she discovered a large bundle lyicg on the steps. She raised an alarm, and on the wrapper, which consisted of a flannel petticoat, being removed, the body of a young female child was found to be inside. The attention of Sergeant Golden, 7 M, was called, and the body was removed to the workhouse, in Marlborough-street. Information was forwarded by Mr. ICibblewhite, summoning officer and parochial beadle of Christchurch, to Mr. W. Carter, the coroner for East Surrey, who gave directions for an autopsy to be made prior to the investigation. ...  In consequence of this order, yesterday Dr. F. C. Jones, No. 174, Blackfiiars-road, proceeded to make a post-mortem examination of the body. He found the lungs of a bright and natural colour, and that they floated when placed in water, also that the left lung crepitated, and on the right were several dark spots, indicative that there the air cells, though formed, were not expanded, and which left no doubt in his mind that the child had lived some hours after birth. The body was fully developed, and the umbilical cord was left about a foot long, and not tied. The tongue, which protruded, was black, as were also the lips and nose, There was a contused wound on the right temple the size of a shilling, and on reflecting the scalp, eccymose blood was found under the wound. Dr. Jones says he was confident that the wound was the result of a blow inflicted before death. The case is in the hands of the police, and from the statement of a man named Henry Rowland, who lives at No. 3, Bear-court, it appears that a few seconds before lie heard the alarm on Monday night, a woman came to his door, and asked if a Mr. Braisley lived there. He answered in the negative, and at the same time observed a large bundle under the woman's shawl She went away, and hearing the alarm, he ran into the court, and observed the only person there, excepting the inhabitants, to be the woman who had just before left the place, who was making a speedy retreat from the court without the bundle which she previously carried. This aroused a suspicion, and the woman was traced, and found at No. 8, Griffiths-rents, Bermondsey-street. She was conveyed to the station, where she gave the name of Margaret Duggan. The case not appearing sufficiently strong against her, she was set at liberty, and watched home by the police, and up to last night she was under the surveillance of the officers, who are making every inquiry, incognito, to bring the guilty and unnatural offenders to justice. It is expected that for more safety the woman Duggan will be apprehended and placed in safe keeping this morning until the result of the inquiry is made known.  There are strong circumstances of a grave and suspicious nature against Margaret Duggan. The one is, that she had previously cohabited with the man Braisley, who lives at No. 1, Bear-court ; and the other, that there are at present two single females living with her at Griffithsrents, one of whom left her situation a short time since, under the pretence that she was suffering from a severe cough. Up to last night the warrant had not been received by Mr. Kibblewhite, and it is expected that the inquest will be held to-morrow afternoon.