The Sun. — 1840-07-22 (London, England)

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.  NORTHERN CIRCUIT—YORK JULY 20. (Before Mr. Baron RoLes.) Ann Gilmore, aged 36, was indicted for the wilful murder of her child, Margaret Gilmore, an infant of the age of about eighteen months, by administering to it a quantity of oil of vitriol. Mr. Baines and Mr. Bain conducted the prosecution; the prisoner was defended by Mr. Murphy. Ann Gummee, wife of a chemist in Hull, stated that tilt prisoner had been in the habit of coming to her husband's shop occasionally for " white mixture," a soothing syrup for infante, and sometimes halfpennyworths of laudanum. On the morning of the day on which the child died the prisoner came with a cup for some laudanum. She asked also for a halfpennyworth of oil of vitriol, which she received in a phial, to secure the return of which she deposited a penny. Mr. John Fulham, surgeon, WES at the house of the Wogans, a little before three o'clock on the day in question. He found the child's chin burnt and brown, as if ,orne corrosive substance had been applied to it. The body was subsequently delivered to him for the purpose of a post mortem examination. The witness then proceeded to state the analysis by which he came to the conclusion Oat sulphuric acid was present in the contents of the stomach; In this he was corroborated by Mr. Davis, of the Dispensary. Ellen Gilmore, the daughter of the prisoner, a child or eight years of age, was the next witness called. She seemed a smart clever child, and gave her answers with great readiness and precision. She stated that she slept with her sister the night before her death, and dressed her when she got up in the morning. She was then in her usual health, and when taken into Mrs. Wogan's room laughed. She took the child subsequently into the kitchen, and while there her mother came in. She herself went for a little into the back yard, leaving her mother and the child together. On her return there was a table-spoon lying on the table beside them. The baby seemed very poorly. It could not sit up, and was lying on its mother's knee vomitting. Its lips and tongue were white. Her mother took the baby up stairs. In the evening she was sent by her mother with a bottle to Mrs. Gummee's, which she left, and got a penny in return. At night when they went to bed her mother told 'her not to tell any one about the bottle. She said she had only given the baby a little laudanum. To the constable at the station-house she said she had only given the child a little port wine, and according to the evidence of the constable who took her into custody, she asked him, while on her way to the lock-up, if be thought they could hurt her, as no one had seen her give the child anything. When he was taking her before the Magistrates she asked him if it would be better for her to plead guilty before the gentlemen. She said she had due it. It was her poverty had made her do it. The prisoner here exclaimed vehemently, " Take care what you say. There is a Judge in heaven as well as a judge on earth. He knows the secrets of the heart." His Lordship summed up with great minuteness, and the jury pronounced their verdict—" but we strongly r;commend her to mercy." His Lcrdship then put on the black cap. The wretched prisoner instantly fell on her knees, exclaiming, " Lord have mercy upon me." She continued during the time of passing sentence in the same position, ber hands faintly wandering over the bars in front of the dock, as she murmured in a low tone, " Mercy, my Lord." Oa the gaolers removing her she exclaimed, " Oh, my poor fatherless children, my poor fatherless children : my blood is on the head of the villains uho came against me this day." His Lordship said he could not hold out to her the smallest hope of the recommendation of the jury being attended to.