Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1888-05-19 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

THE DRIFFIELD MURDER CASE.  The Rev. Dr. Trevor, of Beeford Rectory, writes as follows to the papers :—Sir—This ease is an example of the injustice of our law to providing no donde for the defence of poor prisoners. The women was arreated on the 9th Audi, committed on the 21st, and tried on the 4th May. Her mother is a pauper, and, being absolutely without mean., ehe could base had no defence at all but for the charity of Mr. Medforth, who is some pounds out of pocket, besides his time and trouble. There were no fond. to prosecute inquiries or fee medical witnesses. All that could be done way to 'collect the evidence on the spot and arose-examine the witrieases brought against her at the public expense, without knowing what they would gay. Thin is a terrible disadvantage to a prisoner on [trial for her life. 1 If this woman if sane, she is as,nredly the only one of her family who is. Her mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, and two Filters, are ehown to have been either raving maniacs or imbecile, and since the trial I have received meddial testimony of herself which I feel aesured would have eecurod a verdict of ineanity if it could have been pro lace in court. It will, of course, be submitted to the Home Secretary. [ I should like to add that to all who know the [ places it seems impossible that the chil I oould hove been drowned in rinakeholme Lock betw,en six o'cloch. when they left Seaford, and e ght when the prisoner was in Bradle3', kitchen at Foston. The lock is five miles from Beeford, three from Poston, and quite out of the way. Moreover, the child is proved to have eaten bacon with her tea [ before haring, and no bacon was found in the stomach, clearly proving that death could not have supervened in the short interval. The prisoner's [ story is that ohs took the child with her Co Poston and carried it to Hell the next day unknown to Bradley. That Ile- did not see the child is no centradiction; it way long after dark when she arrived, and she hart full tims to go upstairs before she went into the kitchen. She gives a long rambling aocount of the adventures of the next day, which read like the ravings of a distracted brain, mixing up real eveots with wild imaginations. The upshot is that she brought the child bark from Hull to Driffield by train, sad met out to walk to Poston. On the way the little girl's hat was blown into the water, and she fell in after it. Whatever may be thought of this it is true that the way from DriMeld to Poston does pass near the place where the body was found, and that the bank is here nearly level with Pis water, I rendering such an 'evident possible. Against this I is to be placed her concealment of the death (which [ she attributes to confusion of mind and terror) and her admissions at the pollee stations which she oomplairis ot as inaccurate, and, as I think, with good reason. To be euddenly taken off at ten o'clock on a dark winter's night, driven to Driffleld, questioned and cross-questioned by hostile examiners, detained all night, and charged the next day with her daughter's murder, was enough to npeet a much stronger mind. The prisoner, though a native of this pariah, is not known to me, not having resided here during my time. But she has written me a long letter sinoe her cocid,mnstion, from which without accepting her uneupported statement of the accident—l am satisfie I she was at the time Po decidedly under the influence of her hereditary malady as to more than juetify the recommendation of the jury. I cannot but hope that it will have its due weight with the Home Secretary.—l am, sir, your feithful servant, 030/106 Tama, D.D. Beeford Rectory, Hall, 12th May.  ADVIL'S TO MOT/IyllS!—ltre you broken In your rest by a sick chill sntfortng with the pain of cutting teeth? Go at once to a chemiEt and get a bottle of Mae. WiNstow's Soornino