Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1882-10-13 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

THE CHARGE OF CHILD MURDER.  Annie Warren, the unfortunate girl who was charged with infanticide, was brought up on Saturday last before Dr. Drew, J. E. Robens, Esq., and W. Talbot, Esq. The Unlit was crowded. Mrs. Warren, the girl's mother, came, attended by a young female. Kate Coney, a single woman, of 2, Weston-terrace, said prisoner had been working with her at Miss Andrews's, washing, until two or three weeks or a month ago. She said she was in the family way; she didn't deny it. Witness never asked herself; she told her she was expecting last month. Witness went to her hours on a Wednesday and called on her: that was later on than the 2ad of August. Witness went in next day: there was nothing the matter with her, and the said it was all over, her sister had done for her. Witness asked what child, and she said it was a boy, and her sister had taken it away. Prisoner was no acquaintance of witness. Prisoner denied something, but was advised not to ask any questions, she stood in a very perilous positions and had better say nothing. Mary Burt, wife of Richard Burt, of Weymouth, said prisoner is her sister, but she knew nothing about her being confined, had nothing to do with removing the child, and hod never seen it. Always thought she was in the family way; but she denied it. Witness offered to help her in her confinement, if she would owe it: she offered t let her come hem, and she would do for her. She had no other sister. Mr. Arden : Very kind of you to do it. She was living home with her mother, but her mother is so near-sighted and deaf that she could not and out anything. Dr. Pridbam with reference to his depositions, did not mean to nay that the child could not have breathed before it wee se permed from the mother. By Dr. Drew: The child might have breathed in • protracted Labour, before it was fully born, and yet it might , have bsen born dead. In that case, the lunge might be inflated and float, a though the child might subsequently be born dead. Dr. Drew: That is a very important answer: we are here to do justice between the Queen and the prisoner. Superintendent Vickery : On Saturday, the 30th, I saw Sergeant Wills in reference to a child found at Radipole, and gave, on Sunday, instructions for prisoner to be brought to the police-station, where he charged her with concealment and murder of the child. He cautioned her, and she paid a quantity of blood came from her ; but she rd -tied having been delivered. She afterwards denied her mai her knew anything about it, and then said she was confined on Wednesday, on the be in presence of her mother' s that it came on all of a sudden, and she knew nothing of it afterwards; she left her work with the intention to go to the Union the following day, to cover her shame. Her mother is very deaf and blind. She said she tied it in two &tag, with • piece of silk round it, put it under the bed, N. 11,1 on Thursday threw it into the Harbour. Finding she stated she a as losing blood, he sent for Dr. Tizerd and the female searcher to eximine her. Sergeant Wile afterwards brought the cloths, which she identified as those ate wrapped the child in. He said there was a rumour about her sister, and she said her sister had nothing to do with it; nobody knew anything about it but herself. This was all the evidence given. In answer to Dr. Drew, Dr. Pridham said he was not prepared to say that the child died either from violence or wilful neglect of the mother. She ass then charged with the wilful murder of the child, and replied: No, sir. Mr. Arden: But that is the charge. He then cautioned her, and advised her to say she was not guilty. Dr. Drew: Annie Warren, the magistrates do not consider that there is sufficient evidence to put you 'on your trial for wilful murder; but you will be committed for trial on the charge of concealment of birth. She was then committed to the Assizes.