The Sun. — 1863-06-11 (London, England)

MARYLEBONE.  EXTRAORDINARY AND SHOCKING MURDER OF A CHILD, AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF THE MURDERESS —Mary Anne Payne, aged 21, residing at No. 6, Allsopp • place, Marylebone, was charged before Mr, Mansfield with the murder of her child, Charles Albert Payne, aged two years and three months, She was also further charged, on her own confession, with attempting to commit suicide, first by taking poison, and afterwards by throwing herself out of a second-floor window.  Prisoner was allowed to be seated during the inquiry. Maria Spence said-1 am a married woman, and live in the same house as prisoner. About 8 last night I heard a crash, and on going out I saw the prisoner lying in the yard. I screamed for her husband, who went for a doctor. I knew she had a child between two and three years old living with her. Between 5 and 6 o'clock the child was in my yard, playing with my children, when the mother came and took it up to tea, and I saw no more of it. .  Mary Anne Payne, sister-in-law to prisoner, said—About a quarter after eight I went with my brother into the bedroom for blanket, and oar going to the bed thought the  child was asleep. I took it into my arms, when its head fell back and blood came from its throat. I don't remember anything more. (Witness burst out crying, and prisoner sat composedly looking at her.) Mr. Sedgwick, surgeon, of 12, Park-place, deposed—l was called.to 6, Allsopp-place. I saw prisoner on a sofa in the front parlour in a complete state of collapse, resulting from her fall from the window. I examined her to sae what injury she had received, and found marks on her elbows and legs. She remained insensible for seven or eight minutes after my arrival, and I had her chest and body rubbed over, and I told her sister to go and get some blankets to cover her with, as she was in her night-dress, and directly after I heard a piercing scream. I attended on prisoner till the return of consciousness, when she spoke very incoherently, and could give no further account of her injuries except that she had slipt off the door step. As soon as she was sufficiently recovered to be left I went upstairs to the second floor back room, and found the b delothes thrown down to the foot of the bed, and the body of the child lying on the near side of the bed with its throat completely cut across and down the spine, and in the middle of the bed a quantity of clotted blood. The child had evidently been moved from its position. I directed a constable to be sent for, and on his arrival we searched the room, and found a large table-knife with blood on it, and which had apparently been wiped with something. Afterwards a piece of paper was found with blood on it. We then went to the open window and found blood marks, and a small flower-pot was knocked over. There was also some blood in the back yard. After this I again attended the woman, and after succeeding in restoring warmth I went home, and returned with a reviving draught. She was afterwards sufficiently recovered to inform me of the circumstances of the case. I was informed that she had taken a large quantity of laudanum. The absence of symptoms of poisoning in her was accounted for because she had been excessively sick in her bed room, where she had vomited the contents of her stomach, consisting of a hearty dinner, into a wash hand basin, and which evidently contained laudanum. She said to me, to use her own words, " I have been for some time low-spirited, and was very low-spirited during nearly the whole time I was in the family-way with my first child. I can't account for my being in low spirits. I went out after dinner with my child, and went into Mr, Williams, chemist, Upper Baker-street, and bought 2d. worth of laudanum for the toothache; I then called in at Mr. Greenish, chemist, New-street, Dorset. square, and bought another 2d. worth, After that I went to Ms. Hows, chemist, in the same street, and he only let me have a ld. worth. I then bought some grocery, and went home and undressed and went to bed." She had no recollection of throwing ht rself out of the window. I asked her if she was in the family way, and she said she was three or four months gone. She had also attempted to cut her own throat with the knife, as there was a slight mark up.on it. Albert Hammett, 270 D, gave evidence which went to corroborate the medical gentleman. He produced the knife, and a piece of paper with blood upon it. Great force must have been used with the knife, as it was very blunt. Prisoner, who sat unconcerned all the time in the dock, declined to put any questions to witness, and was remanded until the depositions might be taken.