The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1883-09-01 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE CHARGE OF CHILD MURDER NEAR CROYDON.  On Saturday, at the Croydon Petty Sessions, James Cole was charged, on remand, with the wilful murder of Thomas Cole, his son, aged three years and eight months, by striking his head on the floor of 12, Pridbam-road west, New Thornton-heath, on Sunday evening, the 19th inst. Mr. Pollard prosecuted on behalf of the Treasury, and Mr. Thomas Young appeared to defend:  The evidence previously given by Richard Cole, aged 14, a son of the prisoner, and Robert Gilbert, who captured Cole as he was running away from the house after the murder, was read over and the witnesses were cross-examined. The boy said his parents frequently quarrelled because his father did not seek for employment. Thomas Knight, a freeb witness, was now examined by Mr. Pollard. He said he was a brickmaker, living at 22, Railway-road, New Thornton•heatb, and had known the accused fourteen years. On Sunday nikht, at half-past ten, he was passing along Pridham road, when he saw Cole running towards him without coat, hat, or boots. Prisoner said "I have murdered my child." Witness caught hold of his arm and said "You don't mean to say that, Jim." With that the accused broke away from him, but witness gave chase and caught him by the "Prince George" publichouse. A policeman came up, and witness said "This man says he has murdered his child," and the prisoner admitted having done so." Police constable Moriton, 124 W, having repeated the evidence he gave at the inquest, Inspector Butters, W Division, narratei the circumstances of his visit to the house, and said, in reply to Mr. Pollard, that a person standing at the front gate would have a good view of the front room and everything in it. The clot of blood on the floor was a little larger than a penny. Harriett Harding, living next door to the Coles, made some important Additions to the evidence she gave before the coroner. In answer to Mr. Young, she stated that Mrs. Cole seemed to be Fobbing all day on Sunday. The prisoner's language was dis• gusting. Witness did not hear him say "For God's sake, Mary, come away from those bad women." She spoke to Cole about his bad language, because it was not fit for her children to hear. He said that before they should do as they liked he would settle the lot. They were very short of food at times and In great distress, and witness believed his poverty drove him to desperation. He often had violent outbursts of temper without any apparent cause. Mrs. Cole was a sober, hardworking woman, and had striven hard to support her family. Only the previous week she was obliged to sell their table and bed in order to get food. There was not a stick of furniture in the house at the time of the occurrence. To witness's knowledge they often suffered from hunger. Mr. Young; You have said that Cole often had sudden outbursts of violence; I believe the murder was committed all in a moment ?—Yes it was. Cole came out of prison three weeks ago, and she had seen him drunk once since then. A short time since some ladies at Nor wood sympathised with the woman and gave her relief. Dr. Mark Jackson repeated the evidence he gave at the inquest on Thursday, and, in answer to Mr. Pollard, added that the streaks of dust which he found on the child's abdomen led him to infer that it bad been scraped along some dirty surface. The injury to the brain was caused by great violence.—You have heard how the prisoner swung the child over, and brought its head into contact with the ground. Would such violence as that produce the injury you found?— Yes,  Dr. Carpenter : There being no sign of a fracture of the skull, and looking at the size of the bruise at the angle of the eye down to the face, would that be pro dazed by one blow or more than one blow ?—More, I should think. It did not fcliow that the blow would fracture the child's head.  Mr. Pollard having intimated that this closed the case for the prosecution, The Mayor cauti med the prisoner in the usual way, and asked him whether he had anything to say in answer to the charge. The prisoner : I reserve my defence. The Mayor: Then you are committed to take your trial at the October Seesions of the Central Criminal Court on the charge of wilful murder.