The Express. — 1866-10-11 (London, England)

SHOCKING DEATH OF A CHILD FROM  STARVATION.  Mr. Win. Payne, the City coroner, resumed an inquiry last evening at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, respecting the death from starvation of Jane Giles, a child aged 8 months, who lost her life in consequence of the poverty of the family in whose charge she was left. Mary Ann Pitt, a miserably-dressed and half-starved looking woman, said that she lived at No. 3, Whitestreet, St. Luke's, and that she was the wife of a man who supported his family by killing sheep at one penny each. He made on an average four shillings a week. Towards the end of last month a strange young woman called at witness's house. She said that her name was Rebecca Giles, and she asked witness to take care of the deceased for 211. fxL a week. She paid the first half-crown and left. The next week she called and gave her fourpence halfpenny. After that time she never gave anything towards the support of the child, and she never called for three months. On Saturday week 'linen found the child dead on the bed. She took the body to the hospital. (The witness cried while giving her evidence.) Mr. R. Bond Moore, house surgeon, said that the body of the child was much emaciated. A post-mortem examination showed that the deceased was suffering from no disease. All the internal organs were healthy. The stomach was perfectly empty. The child had died from starvation. There was no other cause of death. Coroner—Can you form any idea how long the child had been without food  Witness—The deceased had suffered for long time. Mr. Case said that he had gone to No. 3, White-street, and he found the Pitt family in e state of the greatest poverty. Mrs. Pitt recalled, deposed that she had not applied to the parish for assistance. because she had means to support the child. Her two little boys were partners in a blacking bon, and the family where never on want of a penny to buy food for the child. On the day the child died a farthing's-worth of milk was bought for it, and it was divided into two portions, and it got the milk in the morning and in the evening. The child ate a small biscuit, and it was given a little bit of meat and two small pieces of bread and butter. That was all the child got. She could not eat the bread. There was no need to go the Wish.  . Coroner—The doctor says the child was starved. Ellen Griffin said that the mother of the deceased was a book folder. She was • widow. Witness did not know where she could be found. Mr. Case said that he had caused inquiries to be made about the mother, but she could not be discovered. The police said that they could do nothing in the case. Mrs. Pitt Lad refused to give up the deceased to her mother, because she would not pay Ls. that was then owing for the child. The Coroner said that the child had been deserted by the mother, and she could be prosecuted for that offence. If the jury brought in a criminal verdict against her the charge could nut be less than murder. The woman Pitt appeared to be in • very afflicted state about the death of the child, and she evidently felt the lees of her very much. But the question was whether, if not having the means to give the child food she ought to be held accountable for its death in consequence of her having neglected to apply to the workhouse for assistance. The medical evidence was clear as to the cause of death, and it was for the jury to say what verdict they would return. A juror said that food had not been wilfully kept from the child, it had not been wilfully starved to death, for it got what the others got. The jury after some deliberation returned • verdict " That the deceased chill died from want of sufficient food, and the jury are of opinion that Mrs. Pitt ought to be more cautious in the future, and that she ought to have applied to the union for assistance."  Several of the German journals state that King George of Hanover will probably soon repair to England.