The Sun. — 1841-01-22 (London, England)

MORE CORN-LAW MURDERS.  On Friday last an inquest, exciting considerable public interest, was held at the house of Mr. John Turner, the King's Arms Inn, Heywood, before Mr. Dearden, the Coroner, respecting the decease of Eliza Frankland, the youngest child of an extremely poor man, named William Frankland, an operative clogger. The deceased, who was two years and six months old, appeared to have died from the effects of hunger and cold. The first witness, Joshua Bold, policeman 92 of the county constabulary, stated that at an early hour on Tuesday morning, whilst he was passing through Hart-street, Heywood, his attention was attracted by the dismal cries of children, proceeding from a cellar. Having called another policeman to accompany him, they enterod the place, and found the only inmates to be three young children, huddled together on a wretched bed. On examining them, one was found to be a corpse ; and upon further search, the dwelling was found entirely destitute of food or money. All the children were in a state of starvation, and most deplorably situated as regarded clothing. The policemen went speedily to Mr. John Phenix, superintendedent of police, and informed him what they had discovered. The superintendent promptly attended to the wants of the poor famished survivors, and provided them at once with food. Having learned where the father of the children was, he lost no time in bringing him to Heywood. The father was at work at Stockport, from whence he returned weekly to his wretched abode. Being a widower, his family were much neglected in his absence, and the rest was what we have already stated. Mr. Phenix confirmed the testimony of the police, and added, that the purpose he had in view in causing the inquest to be held, was to inquire whether the death was attributable to the misconduct of the father of the deceased, or to the inattention of the assistant-overseer of Middleton, to which township the family belonged. William Frankland, the parent of the poor child, a lank, thin-visaged, and pitiable-looking person, stated he had been out of work for some time ; but within a few weeks, he had obtained employment at Stockport at nailing clogs. In answer to questions from the Coroner, lie stated that his earnings yielded only ss. 6d. per week, out. of which he paid 4s. for food and lodgings at Stockport. Having only Is. 6d. for the sustenance of the three children we, kly, he had purchased some coarse flour, of which he made porridge on Sunday last, and having obtained the services of a poor woman to attend occasionally to the children, ho again proceeded to Stockport. In reply to queries as to whether he had been relieved by the township to which he belonged, he stated that formerly he received a pittance of Is. 6d. weekly from the overseer of Middleton : that, a few months ago, he waited nearly a whole day to obtain this trifling sum from the assistant overseer, who asked him what was the reason he did not get work. lie replied that if he had some blocks he could get on better. The Overseer, consequently, gave him 12s. to enable him to get some work, and from that period the assistant overseer had never been to visit the family, or rendered them any assistance. He therefore thought it was useless to make any further applications for parochial aid. Betty Chaderton, the old woman employed to attend to the family, spoke to the condition of the children, and stated that they had gone about begging for food. Mr. Samuel ltainsden, the assistant overseer of Middleton, who was questioned as to the relief of Frankland, said he had never seen him since the time he gave him the twelve shillings, and he had never inquired into the state of the family since. Mr. Leach, surgeon, of Heywood, who had examined the body of the deceased, stated that the child had died of inflammation, produced by cold and want of food. He observed that there was but a very small quantity of food in the stomach, and the case was one of the most painful he had ever witnessed. A verdict in accordance with the evidence was returned. The gentlemen of the jury, along with the police superintendent and a number of his men, feeling for the pitiable state of Frankland and his family, entered into a liberal subscription for their relief, to which the Coroner contributed. Much sympathy has also been manifested by respectable inhabi• tants of Heywood for the sufferers.—Blanchester Guardian.  The Hon. Miss Devereux, only (laughter of Viscount and Viscountess Hereford, has been appointed by her Majesty to succeed Miss Spring Rice, as Maid of Honour to her Majesty: