The Statesman. — 1823-12-03 (London, England)

LAMBETH STRECT.—A CHILD KILLED BY ITS OWN MOTHER —This office was a scene of bustle and confusion during the whole of the day, from the many persons who had flocked hither, to hear and learn the result of the examination of Mrs. Catherine Smart, who was charged with the murder, on the With November, of her own female infant, twenty-two weeks old.—The Presiding Magistrates were Matthew Wyatt and John Hardwieke, Esqrs. ; the Rev. Daniel Mathias, Rector of Whitechapel, and Magistrate for the County of Middlesex, was also on the Bench. The prisoner, who seemed to be sensibly affected at the dreadful crime she had committed, was led Into the Justice Room, supported by her husband, a respectable looking man (residing at No. I. Lumley Place, Mason Street, Whitechapel), her poor aged mother, and some other female friends. Being incapable of standing from the extreme debility consequent on the great agitation of mind necessarily produced by her present situation, she was placed in a chair.— The following detail was then given :—Tne unhappy woman, since her accouehement of the deceased child, has been in a precarious state of health, hut owing to the persevering attention and skill of Air. Mears, her doctor, she was gradually recovering, until the death of one of her children, which occurred yesterday fortnignt, and which was interred last Sunday in Whitechapel church yard. This loss appeared to affect her deeply, and in the course of the last week she observed to her nurse how willingly site would cut her throat, if she could by that means obtain the consolation of being with her departed child.--The nurse, of course, used arguments•in order to banish such rash thoughts from her mind ; and the doctor ( who had previously dreaded that she might ma•.e an attempt on her own life) gave strict orders that every thing which was likely to be used for such a dreadful purpose might be kept out of her reach. Yesterday morning, however, she assumed rather a remarkable share of convalescence, and apparently sane intellect ; for, on getting out of bed, she resumed with great cheerfulness arranging her domestic affairs. She lighted a fire under the copper, and had finished washing a shirt for her husband, whea sue took and began to kiss and hug her infant, at the same time remarking what a fine child it was.—lt was now about ten o'clock, and having intimated that she was thirsty, she sent the nurse to a neighbouring public house, for a pint of porter. After the nurse had gone on the errand, the only person, besides herself anal the child, was her mother, whom she also got out of the room bysending her for a basin of water, to the yard. The nurse was the first who returned, and on her entering, the front parlour a most appalling spectacle presented Itself to her view. The floor was a pool of blood ; and MrsSmart, who was sitting in a chair, was covered with gore, having in her lap the child. which she had been but a few moments before caressing, with its head severed from its body ! On the return of the curse, she exclaimed—" I did it—l did it." "It was I that cut poor little Catherine's head of•."— The infatuated woman still had the head in her lap, and on search being made, the instrument of death, a knife, besmeared with dotted blood, was found in the room. The Magistrates severely censured the conduct of the nurse, in not adhering more strictly to the command of the medical gentleman before named, in not leaving the accused alone, or suffering any titiog destructive to lie in her way. It was the opinion of -their Worships, as well as the Doctor, that the niuriltr was perpetrated in a moment of temporary insanity. Toe prisoner, during almost the whole of the examination, appeared to be in a sort of swoon, and to pay little or no attention to what was going on ; but she betrayed no symptoms of insanity.— She was remanded to the Infirmary of Clerkenwell Prison until the Coroner's inquest is held on the body of the child, and special orders were given that site should be closely attended, lest she should destroy herself. She was taken away in a hackney coach, accompanied by Foster, her husband, end a Mrs. Rudolph, who proffered her services to take care of her in the gaol until site comes up again for re-examination. The husband and several other friends seemed to be overwhelmed with grief, and cried bitterly w bite in the Office, lamenting the circumstance.