The Sun. — 1842-06-09 (London, England)

WORSHIP-STREET.  Caroline Bigsworth, aged 22, was placed at the bar for final examination, charged with having attempted to destroy the lite of Selina Just, her illegitimate female infant, and afterwards to commit suicide. _  The particulars of this most digressing case have already appeared. It will be recollected that the prisoner had lodged at the house, No. 3, Clarence-street, St. Luke's, in eohabitation with the father of the child, a brass-founder, named Charles Just, who deserted her, on Monday se'nnight, and was said to have since lived with another woman. After his departure the prisoner was observed by her fellow-lodgers to be in a very low and desponding state, and, on the succeeding Friday morning, one of them discovered her suspended from a rope in the back kitchen, and the child was soon afterwards found lying on the bed insensible, and at the point of death from the effects of drowning. A pail was found in the room containing some gallons of water, in which it was afterwards ascertained that the wretched woman had immersed the child until life appeared extinct; after which she laid it on the bed, and proceeded to the kitchen, in order to conclude the tragedy with self-destruction. Both the mother and the child were at the last extremity when they were discovered, but through the prompt and persevering exertions of a medical gentleman, named Mack, their lives were saved. A letter was found in the prisoner's room, addressed to the mat► Just, in which she appr►sed him of her criminal designs; and, in simple and touching language, intimated a desire that the child and herself might be placed in the same coffin, and that the expenses of the funeral would be defrayed by the authorities of Walthamstow, to which parish she belonged. The depositions of the several witnesses having been completed, they were read over by Mr. Vine, the chief clerk, in the presence of the prisoner. In answer to some questions from the Magistrate, respecting her intimacy with the man Just, the prisoner, in low and broken accents, said that she became acquainted with him about three years ago, and was in the service of a • family living in Bislaopsgate-street when he effected her ruin. The child was born about a year and nine months ago, and she had been since living with a family at Islington, but about seven weeks sinew Just induced her, under a solemn promise of marriage, to leave her situation, and place herself under his protection. The child, a lovely little creature, was in Court during the investigation, and its serene and smiling looks were in strong contrast with the heavy and heart-broken aspect of its un. happy mother. Mr. BROUGHTON said that although he could not help sympathising with the situation of the unfortunate prisoner, who was the victim of the most cruel and heartless villany, it was his duty to prevent an impression from going abroad that any degree of ill usage or suffering that a woman could sustain would justify her in committing the dreadful crime of attempting to destroy the life of her innocent child. He sheuld commit the prisoner for trial, but it was his sincere hope that the Court would deem it compatible with the public safety to take a mer • ciful view of the case. —The prisoner was fully committed.