Widnes Examiner. — 1905-05-06 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

BOY BEFORE THE MAGIBTRATES.  CONDITION OF THE INJURED CHILD.  At the Runcorn Police Court on Tuesdly a considerable time elapsed before any magistrate put in an appearance. At 12.15, before Mr. E. unison (in the chair) and Mr. T. D. Timmins, the boy Walker was i brought into court. He is rather swarthy n appearance with a prominent forehead and sunken eyes. His features betoken one of weak intellect. Stepping on to a stand near the magistrates' table, he glanced round the court with an unassuming air. . . .  In answer to the magiarates' clerk, he gave his name as Fred. Walker, and said that on the 4th inst. he would be eleven years of age. He was then charged with feloniously attempting to kill and murder a little girl named Ethel Gatley, aged three years. Superintendent Bunion said that the prisoner *as the son of Thomas Walker, 22, Princess-street. He was a boy who would not attend school, and, furthermore, was an annoyance to the children playing in the street. From information in the possession of the police it was gleaned that the little girl was seen in the company of the boy Walker playing in the neighbourhood of Belvedere, of Greenway-road. They were afterwards seen going to a mound of soap waste close by. Nothing seemed to have been heard or seen of them for some hours afterwards. The girl's mother became anxious about her child's long absence, and after going to her mother-in-law's, to see if she was there,and not finding her, she gave information to the police. In the meantime a young girl named Elizabeth Hayes had found the child on the soap waste, covered over with a dirty piece of oilcloth. The cloth was taken away, and a horrible sight met her gaze. Ethel, who by this time must have been lying on the ground for about three 'hours, was in a horribly battered condition about the face and head, caused, presumably with a brick. Over the left eye was a huge gash, and one behind the head. ' Her nose, mouth, and eyes were much discoloured. All her clothes were stripped from her and placed in a heap close by. A huge brick was also spattered with blood, and was produced in court. With all possible speed she was taken to Dr. Robinson in an unconscious condition, and after a period of artificial respiration the girl was brought round Three pieces of brick were found, and those also were covered with blood The boy was arrested later on. and examined by Drs. M'Dugall and Blunten, who certified hiin to be sane and neither an idiot nor imbecile.  George Laxton, about thirteen years of age, of 83 Greenway-road, said that he saw the boy and girt in comnaay together between 12.15 and 1.45 on some waste land near Oakhill-road. They 'passed him about ten yards distant, and be shouted,'" Where are you going to, Walker ?" to which no answer was made. _ _  ..... Mrs. Francis Gatley. wife of George Gatley, stated that she lived in Mill-street, and the little girl mentioned in the charges was her daughter, who, at a quarter to twelve, was playing in the street. She saw her daughter brought home by her husband about five o'clock. Witness described the wounds. .  Mr. Jackson (magistrates' clerk) to witness: How is she this morning? Mrs Gatley: She ia no better. • - -  Prisoner was remanded for seven days.