Murder of an Infant.
On Friday last, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, an inquest took place at the South Saxon Hotel, [13 Grand Parade] St Leonards, before J.G. Shorter, Esq, coroner, and a jury of eighteen [men]. Mr. C. V. Levett, foreman, [a baker of 19 North street], to investigate the circumstances attending the death of a newly-born male infant which was found in the privy to the rear of No 6, North street, on the previous Wednesday night.

The usual formalities having been gone through, the jury proceeded to view the body, which was lying at the St. Leonards police-station [Mercatoria]. On their return the following evidence was taken.

Left:  Looking down Victoria Passage. The child's body was found in a privy
in the right hand corner of the yard on the right.
Right:  6 North Street and Victoria Passage

Catherine Pulford [16], living with her grandfather [a butcher] at No.6, North street, deposed - About a quarter before ten on Wednesday evening, the 19th instant, I had occasion to go to the privy which is in our back yard, a few steps from the back door. Other parties besides our own family used this place; and any person could have access to it, as the yard door is rarely fastened. There is a public passage leading from Shepherd street into North street, and the yard door opened into it. The yard being very dark at the time, I took a candle with me. The yard door was wide open, and the privy door was closed tight. On entering the privy my attention was attracted by something white down the hole, which looked like a bundle of clothes. The place being nearly full of soil, I had no difficulty in seeing it. I did not touch it, but immediately communicated with my grandfather who, with my grandmother and myself, went out and inspected it. My grandfather took the tongs and lifted it part of the way up, but let it go again, and went after a policeman. He afterwards returned with Barnes, who examined the place and took out the bundle. Saw Barnes open the bundle, and I then discovered that it was a child wrapped up in a cloth.

James Barnes, extra-constable - [of 9 Lavatoria] About a quarter past ten I met Pulford near my house. I accompanied him to his house, where he then showed me the bundle in the privy. I tucked up my shirt sleeves and got it out, and carried it into Pulford's kitchen, where I opened it, and found it contained a male child. It was wrapped in an old apron with a kitchen duster over it. There was also a glass cloth twisted tightly round the child's neck, and pinned, and a thread twisted four or five times round the neck under the cloth. I gave the body into the charge of Sergeant Phillips. The body was previously shewn to Mr. Gardiner, the surgeon, and from information I received from that gentleman, I yesterday went in search of Hannah Moore, who lives as a servant to the Rev. Mr. Gordon on the West hill. At first when I knocked on the door she would not open it. When she came to the door she said, "I know who sent you - Mrs. Lamb." I asked her, what made her think Mrs. Lamb sent me? She replied, that Mrs. Lamb came there about two o clock that day and said "Dear Hannah, what have you been doing? the police have got a child which they found in the privy. Which that woman [Mrs. Ashdown] showed you into." On which Hannah Moore remarked - "well I don't care, it is not mine." Hannah Moore was about to go up stairs again, but I told her she must not go; and called Inspector Campbell, who took her in charge. I took this thread from the kitchen table, it being similar to that found on the child's neck.

Sergeant Phillips deposed to receiving the body of the child from Barnes at a quarter before twelve on Wednesday night. The witness produced the thread with which the child was supposed to have been strangled; it was of the common sort, doubled four times. He also deposed to finding the after birth in the trap of the water closet of the house where Hannah Moore was servant and giving it into the hands of Mr. Gardiner.

Anna Ashdown [of 3 Victoria passage] stated that a person of the description of Hannah Moore called at the house of Mrs. Lamb, who lives opposite to her in Shepherd street, between three and four o clock; but Mrs. Lamb being from home she asked the witness to allow her to go into her water closet; but it was inconvenient, the latter refused, and showed her into that of Mr. Pulford's. Witness said that the person in question wore a large plaid cloak, and appeared to be very stout. She has since seen the accused, but could not swear to her, in consequence of the alteration in her dress.

The church and presbytery.

Jane Lamb, wife of George Lamb, labourer, living [at 2 Victoria passage] between Shepherd street and North street, deposed - I have known Hannah Moore ever since she has lived with Mr. Gordon, which is about 8 months. Have been in the habit of going to the house. Mr. Gordon sometimes lived at his house on the West Hill, and sometimes at Silverhill cottage, about 3 miles distant. When he is at the latter place, Hannah Moore has charge of the house on the West Hill. On Saturday afternoon, I went as usual to clean up St Andrew's Church, which adjoins the house of Mr. Gordon. I knocked at the door of the house, but could get no answer. I afterwards got into the kitchen by another way, when Hannah Moore called out from her bed-room and asked if that was me. I proceeded to the bed-room where I found her in bed with her clothes on. Her hands were underneath the clothes. She appeared very faint, and there was a large pool of blood on the floor, as if a delivery had recently taken place. There were footmarks of blood round the bed leading to a little closet which is used to put the servant's clothes in. I did not look into this closet. There was a peculiar smell in the room, which I thought proceeded from a water-closet. I looked very hard at her, and she at me. I said "you look like a person who has had a miscarry or a child." She said "oh, dear me, nothing so bad as that, Mrs. Lamb, thank God." I then proceeded to my work, and took no more notice of the matter then; but told my husband. The apron in which the child was wrapped is exactly like the one which I have seen Hannah Moore wear. When Mrs. Ashdown told me what sort of apron it was, it struck me that Hannah Moore was the guilty person - she looked guilty. I afterwards said to her, "Oh, Hannah what have you been doing?" She replied, "Nothing". When I told her there had been a child found, she appeared ready to drop. The cook said, "Never mind Hannah, it is not yours." On which the latter said, "I hope you will not think it is me." She also said that she had several doctor's bills, which would prove her innocence. [A cloak was here produced, which the is accused admitted having worn on the day which she is supposed to have been seen in Shepherd street, with marks of blood upon it.] The accused denied having been at my house at all; and she said that she did not go out of the house until fve o' clock in the afternoon.

North Street and Victoria Passage.