The Sun. — 1847-04-03 (London, England)

CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Sergeant UASELEE Susan George was indicted for the wilful murder of William George, her infant child, at Kimbolton, on the 26th of November, by drowning him. Mr. Greaves and Mr. Cooke appeared for the prosecution ; Mr. fluddlestone and Mr. Barrett for the defence. It appeared in evidence, that the prisoner was a pauper in the Leominster union workhouse ; that on the sth of November last she was delivered of a male child, and on the 26th of November left the workhouse, in company with another pauper, Susan Millie, taking the child with her. Muffin parted with the prisoner at about three o'clock, at which time the child was alive and well. The prisoner remained until nearly four o'clock at the Duke's Head public-house ; the child had some food provided for it, and ate nearly a teacup full. On leaving .the public-house the prisoner was seen by the schoolmaster of the workhouse going in the direction of the Cheaton brook, about a quarter of a mile distant from the place at which the child's body was afterwards found. The prisoner in the evening was at the Bull's Head public house, and had no child with her. here she remained until the following morning, and left at eight o'clock, saying she was going to Kingsland. On the 27th of November, the prisoner having been met by one Mary Barrer, who inquired after the child, said that it died in the workhouse, but on the next day told the same woman, with whom she stopped till the Wednesday, that she had taken it alive out of the workhouse, but that it was afterwards take❑ ill and (lied in her arms, and that as she sat crying a gentleman who was passing by took away the body, saying he would bury it. On the 6th of December it was found in Cheaton brook, partly covered with mud. The arms and legs were contracted, and the hands clenched, as of a drowned person. On examination, the lungs were found to be collapsed, the brain di-tended with blood, and the stomach containing undigested food. Mr. Watling, the surgeon, who deposed to the state of the body, was subjected to a long crossexamination, with a view to prove that all the appearances observed in the body were consistent with the probability of the child having died from convulsions. The collapsed state of the lungs and distension of the brain were the circumstances principally relied upon in proof of the convulsions, by which the child was said by the prisoner to have died. The principal contrary facts were the presence of undigested food in the stomach, and the contracted rendition of the limbs. The witness admitted that if he had not known where the body was found, he should have attributed the death to convulsion- ; but, under the circumstances, thought it had died by drowning. The child was dry-nursed, and it appeared that children brought up in that manner are more liable to convulsions than children that are suckled. The limbs would have been partially straightened had it been undressed after death. The contraction and rigidity of the limbs would cease almost immediately after death, unless the body were thrown into cold water. There appeared some contrariety between the evidence of the surgeon and opinions expressed in well-known works on medi,,al jurisprudence, as to the symptoms which indicate death by drowning. Mr. lICDDLESTONE addressed the jury for the prisoner, insisting on the high probability, as appearing upon the case for the prosecution, that the child died through convulsions. The jury retired for a few moments, and on their return Acquitted the prisoner. The business in this court was over before three o'clock. Mr. Sergeant Allen assisted to-day and yesterday in disposing of it. The business had not closed on the Crawn or civil side.