The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1883-02-23 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

TILL SUPPOSED MURDER AND MUTILA TION IN SHROPSHIRE.  Thomas and Elizabeth Mayos were on Monday morning brought before the justices at Wellington on the charge of the wilful murder of the child Mary Elizabeth Mayos. The prisoners were removed to Wellington on Sunday night. Several hundred persons collected, and the prisoners were roughly hustled by the crowd, and with great difficulty the police prevented a more serious onslaught. —Mr. C. Peale, who appeared for the prosecution, said that since he entered the court he had been told that one of the prisoners had made an important statement on the previous night, and he proposed simply to advance evidence as to the finding of the head, to put in the statement referred to, and then to apply for a remand. Evidence having been given as to the finding of the head, a policeman named Smith said that at four o'clock that morning the male prisoner asked to see him, and expressed a wish to make a statement. It was taken down in writing and signed by the male prisoner. The prisoner said: On Thursday I left my three children in the house. Polly was all right, and had been for some time. When I went to my dinner the same day my wife and deceased were upstairs. Her mother was making a mournful noise. I asked my little boy Will what was the matter. He replied, "I do not know." I went up. My little girl was on the bed and appeared dead. My wife told me she left Polly cleaning up the fireplace, and when she came in she found she had fallen down before the fire. She picked her up, and took her upstairs, but whether she put her in a hot bath before she took her upstairs or not I cannot tell. I got anxious about it myself, and wanted to fetch the doctor, and send Mrs. Evans in to her. She held me and kept me back, and told me to consider myself. She said that she would come round again. She carried on until night, and I did not know what to do. She considered, and said we could make away with her. I think the reason she wanted to make away with her was because she had not treated the child properly, and given it food enough. My wife and I were continually quarrelling about it. I have lost three situations through her. On the Thursday night when I came home I saw the girl was quite dead. We left the body alone that night and the next day, and at night we cut it up with a knife and old broom hook. On the Saturday morning she took the body away. I went with her two or three hundred yards on the road. When the came back I asked her what she had done with the body. She said, "I have put it in the Severn, near Atcham Bridge." On the following morning she wanted to burn the head. I would not yield to that, and I should think she put it in Apley Pool on the Tuesday on which she went to Wellington. I don't know when she brought the legs. She told my son Will, that she had taken Polly off dressed upon the Saturday morning. The legs were put in on the Sunday." The statement was (Signed) "THOMAS Mains," and was read out in Court. It created a profound sensation. The female prisoner, in an excited tone said, "The greatest part of it is wrong." Mr. Peele applied for a remand until Friday. On being asked if he had anything to say why he should not be remanded, the male prisoner said, "I have no more to say than what I have . - The female prisoner said, "I don't_ know  said:"  any ground they 11;.ve to keel; me for." The remand was granted. The streets were so crammed that those in court could not get out. The police at length made the excited crowd understand that the case was over, but it was even then very difficult to pass through the packed streets.