The Sun. — 1849-12-20 (London, England)

WILLIAMS.) Emma Craven and Edward Craven were charged, the former with having, at Wakefield, on the 6th of August last, endeavoured to conceal the birth of her child, and the latter with aiding and abetting her in the concealment.  Mr. Blanshard and Mr. Shaw conducted the prosecution; Mr. Overend and Mr. Pickering defended the prisoners.  Mr. BLANSHARD, in opening the case, after stating the charge against the prisoners, said that they resided near Dewsbury, and the family consisted of a female servant, named Ellen Sykes, and a man servant named Thomas Nettleton, who did not live in the house. Before August last, the appearance of Miss Craven had caused suspicions in the mind of Ellen Sykes, and on the 4th of that month, early in the morning, Miss Craven complained of her being unwell from a bowel attack, and remained in bed ; Mr. Craven attended her, taking up her breakfast, and afterwards brandy and water. About half-past 12 she heard cries from Miss Craven's room. Mr. Craven attended her all day. Ellen Sykes observed several other circumstances which went to prove the birth of a child, though she herself never saw the infant alive. On the Monday she observed Mr. Craven go into the garden between nine and ten o'clock, and watched him in consequence of what she had previously seen, and observed him digging near a cucumber frame in the garden. She was then sent out, and when she returned in about an hour, she found Miss Craven down stairs, looking much thinner. After tea she went out into the garden, and the hole 'which she had seen Mr. Craven digging was filled up. What she had seen she told to Thomas Nettleton, and on going to the place where the hole was dug, searched, and found buried in it a paper parcel, inside which was found a male child, wrapped up in white calico. Sheets and chemises were afterwards taken possession of by the police, belonging to Miss Craven, which medical men would state had marks which clearly showed that whoever had used them had been delivered of a child. In addition to this evidence, after the discovery was made, Mr. and Miss Craven suddenly left the neighbourhood ; the former, however, surrendered himself ; the latter was taken into custody in October. The Learned Counsel then called Ellen Sykes, who deposed to the facts stated in the opening speech of counsel. Cross- examined—Miss Craven had a sweetheart who went out to Australia about two months before this happened. When she complained of being poorly, she said her father had wanted to send for a doctor, but she did not like doctors. Had seen some baby-linen in a box of Miss Craven's. It was quite clear to me that Mr. Craven was digging a little grave. He continued digging, though he could see me. I went into Miss Craven's room many times, the door was not locked. Mr. Craven used to go into Miss Craven's room when she was sick. His LORDSHIP here said there was no concealment of birth; there was concealment of the body, but no concealment of the birth on which a jury could act. The jury then returned a verdict of Not Guilty. .Mary Skinner was charged with the wilful murder of her new-born male child, at Dunnington, on the 13th of September last. Mr. Matthews prosecuted, Mr. Dearsley defended the prisoner. _ _  At the suggestion of the latter gentleman Mr. Hay, a surgeon at York, was called, who spoke as to marks and bruises which were found on the child, and as to the fact of its having been born alive. He gave other testimony tending to show ,that the prisoner had inflicted injuries upon the child which caused its death ; but at the conclusion of his testimony, his Lordship having asked the witness whether his opinion might not be fallible, and being answered in the affirmative, his Lordship asked the jury whether they wished the charge of murder to be proceeded with, to which they replied in the negative. The prisoner then withdrew her plea of not guilty as to the charge of concealing the birth, upon which the jury found her Guilty. His Lordship then, considering the length of time she had been in prison, sentenced her to a further imprisonment of six weeks.