The Sun. — 1847-01-07 (London, England)

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. OLD COURT. MURDER COMMITTED UNDER INSANITY.—Mary Ann Kiny, a healthy-looking woman, aged 25, was charged, on the coroner's inquisition, with the wilful murder of James King, an infant, to whom she had shortly before given birth. The prisoner had been removed to this court by an order of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, from the Criminal Lunatic Asylum, in which she was placed shortly after the occurrence, in consequence of being afflicted with insanity, under the influence of which, it was assumed, she had committed the crime. As she subsequently became sane, and was deemed in a fit state to be set free, it was necessary that she should undergo the ordeal of a trial here, in order that a jury might decide upon the matter, and if proved to their satisfaction that she was not a free agent at the time, that she might be liberated. Mr. Duane appeared for the prosecution. Amelia Lyons, the mother of the prisoner, stated, that on the 22d of January last her daughter was delivered of twins, a boy (the deceased) and a girl. Shortly afterwards she appeared to be labouring under insanity, as she talked incoherently upon religious subjects, and about her children, and dying. On the 31st of that month, she was in her room ; her (the prisoner's) husband was also there. Her daughter was in bed suckling the infants. Having observed indications of insanity on the previous Thursday, she was afraid to leave her alone, and having occasion to go to the fire place, she desired her husband to watch her. She turned towards the tire, and the next moment the husband exclaimed, " Oh ! mother, she has thrown herself on one of the children." He pulled her up, but she again flew at the child, and bit him on the cheek. "1 hey succeeded in getting the child away, on whose face they found two marks and a little blood. She took the child to Mr. Mason, a surgeon, in the neighbourhood, whilst her husband held her daughter down on the bed with a sheet. She raved and besought him to take care of her children. The child died three weeks and two days after. Mr. Mason, a surgeon, in High-street, Newington, stated that the child was brought to him about ten o'clock in the evening in question. He found his face, especially the left cheek and the mouth, covered with blood. On removing the blood, he found several punctured wounds—one on the upper lip, one on the nostrils, and another near the eye, which bore the imprints of teeth. Inflammation ensued, and he attended the child until his death. From feelings of humanity he visited the prisoner the same night, and found her perfectly insane. She was wholly unconscious of what she was saying or doing. Mr. Justice ERLE suggested to the jury, that if they were satisfied that the woman was unconscious at the time, that they should acquit her on the grouni of insanity. The jury accordingly Acquitted the prisoner on that ground. Mr. DoaNE said the prisener became in a similar state on the birth of her first child. Mr. Justice ERLE said a representation would be made to the Secretary of State, setting forth the state of her mind at the time, and the verdict of the jury, and she would be liberated. The woman was then removed.