Denton Examiner, Audenshaw, Hooley Hill and Dukinfield Advertiser. — 1877-03-17 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE SUPPOSED CHILD MURDER AT  ASHTON. THE INQUEST.  On Monday an inquest was held at the Town Ball, before Mr Coroner Price, touching the death of the child found in a yard in Yorkstreet, on Saturday night. Mr. Dalgleish (Chief Constable) watched the proceedings in the interests of public justice. The following evidence was taken : Ralph Dearden said : lam 14 yeats of age and live with my parents, at No.l, York-street. On Saturday night, about a quarter to ten o'clock, I went into a closet iu our yard which is common to several of the tenants, The yard is opn to the street. It was dark at the time, and I took a candle with use and lighted it in the closet. I then saw something on the floor wrapped up. There was no one with me I left the candle in the closet, and went for Betty Greaves. Another woman afterwards came, but the bundle was not opened in my presence. I was told it was a child, but I did not see it. Ido not know who put it there. I was in the closet about seven o'clock, and it was not there at that time. I did not see anybody about either at seven o'clock or later.  Betty Greases, 22, York- street, said : lam a widow, and I know the boy Ralph Bearden. He came for me about half past nin, o'clock, and said, "Somebody has left a bundle in the closet." I went to the closet, and found a bundle lying on the floor. The outside covering was a piece of old skirt, and it was also wrapped up in white calico. I could see no part of a child, but I suspected it was such from the soft feeling. I then went back and sent for Margaret Brauthall, and I accompanied her back to the closet. The bundle was taken to my house and unwrapped. I have no Euspicion who the mother is, nor do I know who placed the child there. The closet is open to anybody. _ . . . .  Inspector Bamforth said : On Satu;day tiight last I went to the closet in question and saw the bundle spoken of by the last witnesses. It was taken to Betty Greaves's house, and there opened, when I saw the body of a female child. I I took charge of it, and brought it to the Town I Hall. Enquiries have been made as to the mother of the child, but without success, Dr. Hughes said: I have made an examination of the body of the female child now lying at the Town Hall. It is that of • full grown child, well norished. There are no external appearance of violence. I have made a postmortem examination. From the general condition of the child I am of opinion that it had I been born alive. I should think it had been dead about three or four hours when it was found, and that exposure to cold had been the cause of death. I think it is probable that the child was alive when it was wrapped up and put into the closet. The child must have swallowed, or the stomach would not have been filled with air. The wrapping would not suffocate the child. It was simply a piece of rough calico, through which it could breaihe easily. It might have lived any time from five minutes to twelve hours. . .  The Coroner said the jury had heard the evidence of the surgeon that in his opinion the child had died from exposure. If they thought that that exposure had been wilful then they must return a veraict of "wilful murder." But if they thought that the child died before assistance could be rendered for want of capability on the part of the mother, their verdict could not be one of wilful murder. ' Dr. Hughes said the child was most carefully washed, and that, together with the way in which the cord was tied, was evidence that there was some one present at the birth who did not intend to destroy its life. The Coroner said there was no doubt it had an independent existence. After a short consultation the jury niturnad a verdict to the effect that the child died from exposure, but under what circumstances that exposure was caused there was no evidence to show.  CHESTER I!.PRING ASSIZES, cRowN C6IIIIT.—