Liverpool Weekly Courier. — 1893-08-19 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

PAINFUL SCENE IN COURT.  Mr. S. Brighouanoounty coroner ,held an inquest on Tuesday, at the Assembly-rooms, Seaforth, on the body of Lucy Laura Mellott, the infant child ht Lucy Mallen, with the murder of which the mother was on Monday charged at the County Magistratin' Court and remanded. Superinteudent Walsh watched the inquiry on behalf of the county police. Mrs. Hannah Gresun, mother of the prisoner, said her daughter had been staying with the deceased child at her house in South• port from April 15th until Wednesday lent. On Saturday animas received a letter frond her daughter, which read as , follows:—" Dear Mother,—l have drowned I my baby at twelve this morning. I will give myself up to the puha.. Randal in not home yet. You will find my money in the chest of drawer., as I bed to get a little in with. it. Oh, mother, don't fret. God forgive use, my doing.. —I remain, your daughter. LOor Mahorrr." Witness (continuieg) said the de- • ceased was five months old. Her daughter cause ! to Southport lot a change of air, as a doctor : said she was suffering from melancholia. 1 While at Southport prisoner behaved strangely, • raved, and tore her heir. She said else had loss I all love for her child. Last week, however, she seemed to have a change Jur the bettet,and witness! considered it safe fur her to return horns. Mary Jane Morrie,wiie of a shine eteward,living at Bootle, said the prisoner was her sieter-in-law. , On Saturday she received by poet a letter howl Mrs. Mallett, saying she had drowned her child, and was at a Mar to know where to get money to pay for Randal. Witness explained that • Mr. Mellen had for some time past been in the infectious hospital suffering from smallpox, and prieoner was under the delusion that she would have to pay for his treatment there. William Archer Watkinson, labourer, 72, Labgtoo-roxd, Litherland, said prisoner came to his house at noun on Saturday, end told him she had drowned her baby in a bath. When he asked her why she Ind dome au she replied, " Randal has not done right to me." Prisoner also said, " You go and get the baby out of the bath, and I will go to the police station." Pnlice-sergeentAsheroft stated that the prisoner : came to the Sreforch Police Station on. Saturday, accomosnied by the last wittiese, end said, " I have droo'lllll niy baby in the bath at 8, Beach-road." Wiwi., went to the house and found deceased lying lace down in the bath in fountain , incline of water. Dr. German deposed to having made a postmortem examination ; the cause of death was The jury returned a verdict of 'Wilful murder' l againat the prisoner, Mrs. Mellen. The prisoner throughout the proceedings seemed to realise her positiou most keenly. She declined to ask any queetiooe from the various wiidessec saying, " I don't know what to atty." Her hut- • band sat beside her during the Inquiry. When priaoner new her mother enter the room she was visibly affected, but only fore moment. Upon the coroner intimating to her that she had been found guilty of the wilful murder of her child and must take her trial at the nun assize., she burst into tear. and cried pitifully for some minutia. Fin. II y, elle was removed from the court, assisted by her husband and a police officer. The mother and sister-in-law of the prisonet also cried bitterly on hearing the jdry's ierdmot.