Widnes Examiner. — 1886-12-25 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

SHOCKING CHILD MURDER NEAR  BOLTON.  On Saturday afternoon a shocking murder was committed at Aspull, near Bolton, the wife of a collier named France killing her infant daughter Ellen, six months old, by almost severing the head from the body with an ordinary table knife. She then absconded, but afterwards gave herself up to the Bolton police. The France family, embracing husband, wife, and five children, resided in that part of the township known as the " Gullett." The father and eldest boy are employed at an adjacent colliery, and were at work when the crime took place. About twelve on Saturday morning Mrs France visited her mother, who lives close by, having with her then the unfortunate child. After a brief stay Mrs France returned to her own house, and sent the children who were at home out to play. Nothing more was seen or beard of the mother and child for an hour, about which time a neighbour, entering the house, found blood stains about, and on her calling in others a search resulted in the finding of the body of the child on one of the beds upstairs with the blood-stained knife beside it. Search was made for the mother, and two Aspull constables tracked the woman across country for miles, losing trace at Westhoughton. Later on Mrs France gave herself up to a constable in the Bolton borough force, stating that she had killed her youngest child by cutting its throat. She was handed over to the county authorities, and when charged admitted the crime.  On Monday, the woman France was brought up at the Bolton County Police Court and formally charged. She appeared in the dock with a shawl thrown over her head, and stared about in a vacant fashion. "Sergeant Lomax stated that after receiving information he proceeded to the residence of the prisoner in Lower Gnllett, Aspull, where he found the child with its throat terribly cut. He set out in pursuit of the mother, whom he tracked across the fields to Westhoughton Station, where she had taken the train to Bolton. He subsequently received ' her from the borough police. On his formally charging prisoner, she replied "That's true."—On the Magistrates' Clerk asking whether she had anything to say, the prisoner said "It's true enough," , but appeared quite 'Unconcerned. She was then remanded pending the inquest.—The woman has been ; in a di3sponding state of mind for some time, and ' has been attended by Dr. M`Loughland, of Aspull, who advised her husband, a collier, to keep a strict watch on her actions. The murder was committed with a shoemaker's sharp-pointed knife, which has been found, covered with blood, and which was kept in the house for the purposel of peeling potatoes. It is believed that the woman, about whose insanity the police have now not the least doubt, meditated killing both her youngest child and a daughter three years old, as she had taken them both upstairs, and only sent the elder one down when a neighbour called to her from below. On Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Edge, the coroner for the district, held an inquest at Aspull on the body of a child named Ellen France. The Coroner said that the mother was mot present, as she was very weak, and he did not think it advisable, as the evidence would have to be repeated before the magistrates. It 'transpired from the evidence ,that the woman was insane with regard to religious matter& The Coroner said it was for the jury to return a verdict of "Wilful murder against Mary France." They had nothing whatever to do with any defence which might be raised elsewhere. The jury at once returned a verdict in accordance with the coroner's suggestion.