The Express. — 1862-12-09 (London, England)

THE LAW OP MANSLAUGHTER BY STARVATION AND ILL-TREATMENT.  COMMITTAL OF A MOTHER.-(THIS DAY.)  This morning Mr. H. Raffles Walthew, the deputy coroner, resumed at the Wellington Tavern, Can. non-street-road, the inquiry respecting the death from starvation and neglect of Margaret Jackson, aged one year and three months.  Charlotte Jackson, the mother of the deceased, was brought op in the custody of Inspector Allison, of the K division.  _ . The Coroner read over before the prisoner the depositions taken on the previous occasion, from which it appeared that the woman Jackson was the wife of a person engaged on board the David Melo°limbo°. and was allowed 21. an. per month by him, which she drew from Messrs. Dunbar and Co. She also earned money as a tailoress. The child' was habitually left by her without food and naked, sometimes locked up so that the neighbours could not take it anything to eat. Theresa Johnson, a lodger, asked the mother to take it to a doctor, as it appeared dying, but the mother told her to mind her own business, and nearly killed her by savage blows on the head with • poker. Ultimately the police were communicated with. Dr. Wollaston visited the place, found the mother drunk under the bedstead, and the child in • hoc. rible state of emaciation and suffering, it being " worse than naked." It was taken to the St. George's workhouse, where death ended its misery, and Mr. Rolston, the relieving officer, give Charlotte Jackson into custody. Mrs. Howe was recalled, and in answer to the prisoner said that on three different occasions she found the door locked upon the child. The child was once for a whole day in a state of nudity. Witness saw that it had the chickenpox and recommended a doctor to be sent for. The mother falsely stated she had been to Dr. Arnold for deceased. The prisoner—Did you not say that you would get a magistrate's order to get rid of Mrs. Johnson becauae she went out to drink with me? But for this cursed drink I would not stand here to-day. Witness said she did not see Mrs. Johnson drink with the prisoner. The child's face was covered over with sores. Dr. A. R. Crouch, medical officer of the St. George's Union, said that when the child was admitted it wee in a shocking state of emaciation and disease from want and neglect. The ears and face were covered with eruptions, which might possibly have been from teething. In his opinion the child would be now alive but for the neglect and illtreatineut to which it had been subjected. The Coroner said that if the jury believed the evidence, which could not be reasonably doubted, Charlotte Jackson was in his opinion guilty of manslaughter, which crime consists of the unlawful killing of another without malice, either express or implied. The unlawful killing is either voluntary from sudden transport of passion, or involuntary when ensuing from the commission of some unlawful act. Now, illtr,.stment was an unlawful act, sod was, consequently, sufficient to constitute this offence, for active personal violence was not necetsary. The child had been left constantly without food, on one occasion fora whole day naked, sometimes locked up from all aid, and when remonstrated with the mother most savagely assaulted the person that drew her attention to the condition of her offspring. The child died from starvation and neglect and exposure. If malice could be inferred from the conduct of the mother, the verdict of course should be one of murder, bit he considered that under the circnmatances a verdict of maaslaughter would be the safest.  The jury unanimously found a verdict of " Manslaughter" against Charlotte Jackson. •• • • • •  —.lhe Coroner then issued his warrant for the committal of the prisoner to Newgate for trial at the ensuing seam°, of the Central Criminal Court.  THE GREAT FIRE Hi