Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1894-08-03 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

THE EARBY CHILD MURDER.  MRS. SMITH AT THE ASSIZUS : THE VIRDIET At the Leeds Armless, befere Mr. Justice Grantham, on Monday, Hannah Smith, a married woman, of Earby, was charged with wilfully murdering her child, Hannah May Smith, at Higher Vexes Farm, near Eerily, on the 24th of May. Prisoner, who was attended by a female warder, sat with her head down, taking little heed of the evidence against her. She was dressed in deep mourning, and wore a hat trimmed with black ribbon and feathers to match, There was a crowded attendance in the gallery when the Indictment was read out. Tne counsel for the prosecutien were Mr. Q.C., M. P., 'rid Mr E. li. Tnrton, (instructed by Mr. W. Thompson, solicitor, Skipton), whilst the prisoner was defended by Mr. Waugh, (instructed by Mr. G. M. Robinson, solloitor, Skipton). The cpeaine statement of Mr. Waddy was exceedingly brief and to the point. He Raid the case was about al sad a one as they could consider. With regard to what he might call the broad and fundamental fact that the prisoner did kill her child there could be no doubt; and he did not think the learned conneel for the defence would attempt to deny it. The prisoner, who was married, had a child, and only two or three days afterwards she was found with it on her knee, the poor little thing'a head being nearly cut off. She had in her hand A CARVING KNIFE which had been used a moment or two previously for cutting ham. Under ordinary circumstances the jury would have to find a verdict of guilty against the prisoner, but in this case there was a further question. It was not enough to prove that she did this act; the prosecution must prove that she hod the control of her reasoning powers and mental faeuldes at the time. There was reason to believe that insanity had pocessed several members of her family. As to the woman herself, her conduct was indicative of weakness of intellect, When she WAS seen by her sister after she had committed that act. and when the latter said, " What have you dooe?" eke did not say anything, and looked daz9el and helpiees. He thought the probability was that the jury hed heard the evidence of the medical men, they would come to the conclusi-n that she was Of UNSOUND MINI, at the time the murder was committed. —The first witness examined was Sarah Jane Whitecak, of Higher Vargis Farm, sister of the prisoner, who said prisoner was married on the S h of March in the present year. On the first of May she was confined. During her confi-eiment she frequently talked of drownipg hertelf, and asked witness to commit suicide with her—His Lordship : What did you say to her when she asked you V—Witness Nothing. His Lordship: Did she give you any reason V—Witness : She said she felt that she could not live—His Lordship : Why? —No answer.—Witness, continuing. said that on the 23rd of May she Rat up with her sister all night bee ouse she appeared to he so strange. The same day witness went out to milk, and on return. 'log found that prisoner had put the baby into the well. She told witness she had done so, but gave no reason. Witness trued THE BABY FLOATING on the top, and managed to get it out alive. Early the next morning witness wee gettieg the breakfast ready, and in her momentary absence prisoner got the carving knife off the table and nearly severed the baby's head from its body.—Cross-examined : When witness and her uncle spoke to prisoner about the act she said she could not help it. Prisoner had complained during her cot tinement that she was unable to sleep. Margaret Baldwin, a neighhour, who was celled into the house, corroborated the evidence of the last witness as to the inability of the prisoner to appreciate the nature of the act she had committed. —Police-coostable Simon White said that when he took the prisoner into custody, and charged her with the murder, she appeared to be in a dazed condition. She first said she had done it, and afterwards sold she wished she had not done it.-Police-inspector Amos Hardisty said he had made inquiries into the family history of the prisoner. He found that about twenty veers ago an uncle of hers murdered two of his chidren and then