The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1864-12-10 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SENTENCE OF DEATH.  At the Stafford maize,' on Monday, Richard Hale (30), puddler, and Cecilia Baker (30), no occupation, were arraigned, charged with the wilful murder of Eliza Silletoe, on the 20th July, this year, in the parish  of Sedg ley. The deceased V;fl44 a chili! 'of six 'Year., the daughter of the male prisoner by his now des-eased wife, befon their znarr;ate. The female prisoner IA a w "man with whom Hale cohabited after his return from gaol, aeouitted sd the nianslaughter of Us wife by starvation. At about two in the afternoon of the 20th July, the child was missed, and Hale was inquiring for the child that night and for several days afterwards. Previously be bad been heard to say that he would "as soon be hung for her (the deceased) as for anybody else ;" and it was shown that he bad expreesed is wish to get rid of the chill. On the 2nd of August the child was found lying dead in a corn held. The body was nearly all consumed in the process of decomposition, the anus and legs alone being entire. The chill's arms were outstretched with the fingers clenched, her bonnet hail been placed by her shoulder, and her ehoes, with the stockings tucked in them, by her side. Afterwards a silk hand. kerchief, jellied with blood, and stiff in shape as though it had been compressed in the hand, was found in another part of the corn field. This handkerchief was pinned round the deceased's neck when she NVEI•B last seen alive. Oa the k9th of July both prisoners were seen together in the corn field, near to the spot where the body was afterwards found. Mr. Smith, surgeon, of Costley, deposed that in his opinion the child died in ?great agony, that -the upper portion of the child's clothes was saturated with blood, and also the ground on which the child was lying. Dr. Wrightson, analytical chemist, of Birmingham. found that 2ox of human blood had been on the handkerchief. On one corner of the handkerchief there was a cut as from a sharp instrument, and upon the cut a portion of a siwsle hair of the same colour as that upon the scalp df the deceased. He els-, found human blood on the strings of the bonnet, on the front of the frock, particularly on the breast, and also on the soil that had been beneath the body. Evidence to this extent was given before the coroner's jury, who found a verdict of wilful murder against Hale, but dismissed Baker. But she was subsequently re-arrested and committed by the magistrates on the authority of a barber, of Cosely, named John Jones, on the 14th ef October. Some days before Jones heard one of the Witnesses reading his evidence in his (Jones's) shop, and then, Jones said, and now deposed, that about two o'clock on the 20th July he saw both prisoners sitting in the corn, Baker with a child in her lap. The child was tossed by Baker to Hale. The child escaped and ran off, but, followed by her father, was brought back and placed on the ground. The child screamed, and Hale pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and tied it round, or did someOing with it, to the child's head. As the handkerchief began to be used, the child's cries died out, and Baker turning her face from Hale, stood up and eaw him (Jones). As the prisoners came into the field, with the child walking between them, the prisoners apparently looking round for a place in which to sit down, they also saw him. Ile did not disclose during the inquest what he saw on the 20th of July, because he knew Baker's father. For the defence it was suggested that death bad resulted accidentally, from the bursting of • blood' vessel.  The learned judge showed that the circumstances surrounding tie child's death were incompatible with other than murder; and relative to the motive reminded the jury that Hale had said that if the child were dvad he could leave the country. Supposing that both the preonera were guilty, the most that could be said in favour of Baker was that she was second principal. At about half-past five, after the trial had lasted all day, the jury retired to consider their verdict, and in an hour returned into court nith a verdict of guilty. Roth prisoners were sentenced to death; but the female prisoner, being pregnant, was respited.