The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1840-04-03 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH. Hannah Blackburn, a factory girl, aged 18, was indicted on a charge of having wilfully murdered a male child ; also with having concealed the birth of the child. She, in the first instance, pleaded not guilty to both charges ; but afterwards withdrew her plea on the latter charge and pleaded guilty to it. The prosecution on the first charge was not pressed against her by the crown. . . . .  Mr. PiEL, for thiprosecution, said that he did not wish to state anything in aggravation. In answer to questions from the judge, the prisoner said she was married when 16 years of age ; that her husband deserted her four days after their marriage, and was now a soldier in, she believed, the East IndieS, and that she now worked in a factory. The Learned JUDGE very feelingly addressed the prisoner. He stated that the bill against the prisoner charging her with wilful murder had properly been thrown out by the Grand Jury, as he did not think the indictment could have been sustained. There were so many probabilities that the child came to its death through no act of her's, that he was willing to believe that she was not guilty of the major offence ; and the prosecutor, under the same feeling, had abstained from urging anything in aggravation. She had, however, pleaded guilty to the offence of concealing the birth, by disposing of the body in a secret manner. This was a serious offence, which frequently led to crime. He did not find that she had made any preparation for.her offspring. (The prisoner said that she had. The child was full grown, and was probably born alive. It was her duty to have done everything for it in her power. He, however, took into consideration her being deserted by her husband, that she worked in a factory, and that she had already suffered imprisonment for some time. The sentence was that she be imprisoned in Kirkdale House of Correction for nine months, and be kept to hard labour.  Elizabeth Green, aged 20, was indicted upon a charge pre  cisely similar to the last, and also pleaded guilty to the Concealment of the birth of her child. The prisoner, who is a neat little person, was still in feeble- health, and was allowed a chair. It was stated by Dr. Brown on her behalf, that it was not now assumed that she caused the death of the child ; but that it died from want of proper attendance at the time of its birth. He added that the prisoner was married ; her "husband had gone to sea, and remained away two years, and she had learned that he was dead. He had, however, returned some months ago, and had again joined his ship. Mr. Theophilus Harvey being called, said—l am a surgeon. The prisoner applied to me in January to attend to her during her confinement, and arrangements were made by her for the birth. Mrs. Higgs, a witness for the prosecution said—The prisoner lodged with me. I searched the prisoner's box after the child was born, and found in it a small chemise, some new flannel, and other articles of child-bed apparel. The learned JUDGE then proceeded to pass sentence. The offence of the prisoner was similar to that of the last female brought before him. A stop must be put to the practice of concealing births. He had no reason to suppose that the prisoner had intended to destroy the child ; but she had thought to conceal the birth, by putting it into a box. She had, however, made some little preparation, and had spoken to a surgeon to attend her. The sentence of the Court was that she be imprisoned in Kirkdale House of Correction, for eight calendar monthS, and to be kept to hard labour. Dr. BROWN suggested to his Lordship that the prisoner's health was not such as would enable her to endure hard labour without danger. His LORDSHIP intimated that it was understood that in such cases the labour should be only such as was' suited to the capability of the party.