The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1873-11-22 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SAD STORY.  A distreising case of child murder and attempted suicide has just been tried by the Peels Court of -, the prisoner being a poor widow who had been to the last stage of poverty, and who deters mined to take away her own life and that of her ouly remaining child rather than be compelled to stare destitution in the face. The arts daccusat ion set fprth that Madame Cretpin aged 31, bad lost successively all her relation., her husband, and nine children, the only one remaining to her being • boy of mix yeare,_ of whom ahe appeared to be paseionately fond. limier the influemoe of trouble, disappointment, and ill-health, ehe was unable to provide sufficient food for herself and child and pay the rent of her bumble lodging. Reduced to • state of utter misery, and owing , several quarters' rent to her landlord, eve was served with • notice hi quit her lodging in the Rue d'hisy, at VallVele ; in deepair at the prospect of being thrown upon the world, she resolved upon committing the crime with which she was now charged. On the 14th of August, about ten o'clock In the evening, ahe retired to rest with her child, after having lit two pans of charcoal and written an explanation of her misery and stating the determination at whieh she had arrived The little b y died esphylied during the night, but the neighbours having forced the door the next morning the mother was mind to be still alive. and WWI at once c inveyed to the hosiottal, where she ultimately re covered. After the reading of the document, wilich is a remakably short one for a Frentdi criminal trial, the ['reddest of the court proceeded to exsmihe the prisoner. You are 31 years of age, and you are a washerwoman, are you not r —Yes. You hare lost your husband t—Yes, during the Commune. Bare yen had any children I—Yes ; ten. Alia what has lacome of them T.—They are all dead. Were ',lima. before • court or Janice or condemned / No, never. . .  How Img were you married t—Terelve years. The court Is aware that you have had to battle with many suislortunes. Intermitlon taken respecting you represents you as being of weak mind, nervous, and somewhat lazy ! If I could nit work regularly it was because I was ill: 'vet low people are energetic when suffering as I have done. - -  lice much did you earn a day I—Two francs. At the time you committed the wicked and ctimlnal act for which you are now being tried, did you net owe several quarters' rens $3700? land esrd I—Yes. And he gave you notice to quit 7—Yes, on the ltth of August. On twit night you lit two pans of charcoal, and went to hel with yew sui whom yin dictri t undrnast ; I eoiilil not undress him, I etched h.m S., he buried wad me ~.11 was, (sloe the ptisniier bent into tears.) Are ym not aware that in takine the life of your child, you committed a grievous al me 7—Yes, sir, I know it. Vin were in a state s I the utmoet misery ; you had experienced umoy and were hardships. but you were wanting In encricy. Are you penl. tatr Po you regret rating m y. .0 di '—Vol. sir, I have regrnts.od it deeply suit sincerely ever sines. several witnesses were examined, their evidence tending to show that the prisoner had always been exemplary to her conduc`, and an affectionate mother ; but that overcome with muntal and physical coffering, she had become almost unaciodutable for her acti.ms. Her counsel made a touching appeal on her b-half, I and read the following document which she had writ. ten juA before committing the act:— Vanvs s, Aug. 14, 171 Trig Is the rinse of my death and that of my child. Goring fallersill again on the 13th of July, I was unable to pay rny rent. I took the remainder of ' my thlog• to the paennolfice, and received 71. for them. 't wo days afterwards, finding that I gut no better, I decided to go to the hmpital, where the doctor gave nse some medicine. Gsd only know. how I suffers I; but now that I am no loiger, I shall have no more suffering. I pray God to pardon me ter having put an end to my miseries. . . . My last whiles are 111., you should put a cross and. crown on tie grave of my little is. Ii 1 wiatt him to die with on It is because I would not have him W experience the trouble. I I are gone throu.h. I frost my brother and sister will fonder me also I wieh the weird to be left round my neck; II contains my fathes'4 hair; and alto that my child eh .ul.l be buried in his nest Clothes. 1 t soy yam of charcoal with the notice to quit served upon me by the landlord." The court woo much moved by the reading of this document; and the jury. after a brief consultation, brought in a verdict of Not Until',. Previous to the President ordering her discuarge, a collection was made for the prisoner amongst the members of the court and the jury, and the sum of 75 franca wee handed to her as she left the dock.