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SUbi'llJiOUS DEATH IN CARNARVONSHIRE.

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SUbi'llJiOUS DEATH IN CARNAR- VONSHIRE. A MOTHER ACCUSED OF MURDERING HER CHILD. very painful case of alleged child murder was l.jf t week revealled at Llanllyfli, Carnarvonshire, where the wife of a respectable farmer was taken into custody on the charge of having caused the death of Sarah J one.4, aged 18 months, her youngest daughter. The mother, whose name is Catherine Jones, residing at Llwydcoedfawr, has for some months been suffering from puerperal mania, and a clo ;e watch had to be kept upon her movements. On Thursday afternoon, the husband went into the garden to plant some onions, and left the wife in the kitchen, the deceased at the time playing on the floor. Shortly afterwards, he sent. another daughter, a girl about four years old. to ee where she was. The excited child failed to find her mother, so the father went into the house and met his wife, carrying the dead child in her* arms, coming through the back. When asked what was the matter with the child, she said it had fallen on the ground. She, however, told the servant that she had pressed its lips together with her hand, and stopped its breathing. She also wanted to know whether she would be hanged for doing so. Next day, information was given to the police, and the mother was taken into custody and removed to Carnarvon gaoi. The mother, it was stated, was of very violent temper, and had once before at- i n tempted to cut the child's throat with a razor. PRELIMINARY EX AM 11ST ATION OF THE PRISONER. The first examination of the prisoner took place at the Chief Constable's Office, before Dr W. W. Roberts, on Friday evening. The prisoner is a respectable-looking person, of medium stature, dark complexion, with black pearly eyes. During her examination, the prisoner presented a very in- different manner, and did not appear to realise her position in the slightest manner. William Jones, the prisoner's husband, was the first witness examined by D.C.C. Prothero. He deposed that he lived at Llwydcoedfawr. Llanliyfni, and had three children, a boy, a girl, and the de- ceased baby. On the previous day, witness and his daugher, aged four, together with the servant girl, were planting onions in the garden. He had previously left his wife and the deceased in the house. The deceased wa? then perfectly healthy. Witness sent the girl to the house to fetch some things, but she returned saying that there was n« one ^n. The sen'ant girl also went there, followed by witness, who met his wife in the back door, with the child in her arms. The child appeared to be quite dead at least, witness thought so at the time. lie waj not certain whether the deceased uttered a groan or not. His wife told him that the deceased fell from her arms to the ground. Dr Roberts There is nothing in the husband's evidence to attach any suspicion against the pri- soner. Mr Prothero observed that the suspicion would be strengthened by other evidence, to be called on another occasion. Li leV.y to Mr Pro hero, P.C. Wynn Jones said th" t the prisoner was not present when the servant gir. made a s'atement to him. Dr Robert a (to the husband) Did you see the dece Led fall before going to the garden ? Witness: No, I was informed of this by my wife, after returning ? Prisoner The child feli on its head, and I after- wards heard it groan. Dr Roberts Have you any additional evidence, Mr Prothero ? Mr Prothero: I presume that the police officer can prove the statement of another witness. 'This is legally admissible as evidence. P.O. Wynn Jones, stationed at Llanliyfni, was then called, and said that he was present with Sergt. Williams, at Llwydroedfawr, and heard a statement being made by th servant. The ser- vant informed us that when she came in her mistress asked her, My dear girl, do you think I will be hanged r" She replied, "Oh no. what have you done to her ?" Prisoner f3 .id, I only did tike this," placed her hand on her own mouth, and pressed her own lips. Mrs Jones after- wards asked the servant whether she had seen any- thing wrong with her that morning as regards her state of mind. The servant replied that she had not, and the prisoner then said I have been very bad this morning." Witness saw the body of the child. Matter was running from the nose and ears, the temple was discoloured as if it had been injured, and the back of the head and neck was black. Witness did not charge the prisoner when he took her into custody. Dr Roberts Did the doctor see her ? Witness: No, sir. Mr Prothero: We have not interfered with the coroner's inquest. Dr Roberts: Do you know anything of the previous history of the prioner In reply Lo Mr Prothero, the husband said that Dr Davies had been attending on his wife during her illness. She was a weak-minded person, and on one occasion she had to be removed from home. The prisoner was remanded till Saturday, and Dr Roberts informed Mr Prothero that it would be desirable for the gaol surgeon to examine her. The prisoner was then removed in custody. THE INQUEST. Dr Hunter Hughes, the district coroner, held an inquest at Llanliyfni, on Saturday afternoon, on the body of the deceased Sarah Jones. Deputy Chief Constable Prothero watched the case on behalf of the police. The Rev E. T. Davies, rec tor of the parish, was the foreman of the jury, first witness called was Eilen Roberts, who deposed that she was in at Llwydcoedmawr for the last three She knew before going there, through ai- ay, that Catherine Jones, her mistress, was 1.Ot, si, ways rational and sensible, but witness only d slight difference in her conduct to that o ot Viz whilst making food and when in a .ptt-,s- ?!i. On a certain Sunday morning, her mistress knocked her on the head with a tea kettle, because there was no water in it when wanted by her. On another Sunday morning, her mistress jumped to the little girl aged 4, and pulled her hair as she was on the point of starting to chapel. On Thursday, the 9th inst., about noon, witness went out to thJ garden, which is at the back of the house, to do some work for her master. The girl 4 years of age followed her. When she went t;) the garden she left her mistress, Catherine Jones, in the house, nursing the deceased. In about 10 minutes or so, her master asked her to go into the house to assist her mistress to wash. She went in through the back door. Having entered the kitchen, witness found that her mistress and little Sarah, the deceased, were not in the house. She went out through the front passing the outbuilding and round the house' looking for them. As she could not see them any- where, witness went and told her master in the garden that they were not in. She afterwards returned and commenced washing. Her master and the other girl soon followed her in. He sent the little girl to the neighbouring house to see if his wife and child were there. the little girl returned, saying she was afraid of the dog. Just at that time, her mistress, Catherine Jones, came in through the back door and her master met her. She had the deceased baby in her arms. Her master said something to her, but she did not thoroughly understand the words. She saw him taking the deceased from her M:stre.,s, and heard hi en called out to witness, Dear Ellen, she has done sum filing to little Sarah." Her master brought the de^ ta-^ed in his arms, looked at her, and saw no movements in her body. She looked pale, with her eyes wide open, but the body was warm. Witness then left and called Mrs Jones, a neigh- bour, to their assistance. Between 3 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon, witness' mistress called her into the chamber, where she had gone to bed after fche body of the deceased was laid cut. She asked whether she was of the opinion she would be hanged. Witness replied, "No, I hope not." W itness then asked her, What have you done to lit no ociruu, mini o.-s i I t- answer was i ull1y placed my hand on her mouth, and pressed it like this." She then showed on her own mouth how she had pressed the deceased's lips together. Ann Williams, wife of William Williams, of Clwt-y-ffolt, said Unit she was in the habit of attending at Llwydroedmawr when anything was needed. She attended Catherine Jones dur- ing her confinement with the deceased and on other occasions. She saw on many times when shf. was there that Mr-. Jones' mind was deranged. The first time for her to notice t lis was in autumn of last year. Catherine Jones then asked witness whether she thought that the dress she had on would last for ever, as they were getting too poor to get another. Catherine Jones also told her about Christmas last that she had been using a razor cn the throat of the de- ceased, and that the mark of a clean cut. similar to that which could be made with a sharp instrument, was on her throat at that time. Witness took the deceased into her own home, and kept her there for nearly nine weeks, fearing the mother would do her some injury. She knew that Catherine Jones had been home in Merionethshire with her relatives. The night after she came home, Mrs Jones sent to her house for the deceased, wha was given to her mother on the following morning Witness further* stated that the mother recog- nised the deceased directly when taken home to her, and seemed quite affectionate. Witness was called to Llwydcoed mawr on Thursday, and had remained there up to Saturday afternoon, and had been attending to the wants of Catherine Jones since this sad occurrence. Catherine Jones did not reveal anything of the mystery to her, until Friday. when slid was dressing herself to go to Carnarvon, and when Sergeart Williams (Peny- groes) and P.C. Wynne Jones were about to con- vey her, away. Mrs Jones then showed to the witness that by putting her hand on the deceased mouth and pressing the nostrils between the fork of the fingers she killed little Sarah. She added that she would rather have her back than all the world. Catherine Jones was always kind to the children. Dr Evan Roberts deposed that he practiced as a surgeon at Penygroes, and knew Catherine Jones, having attended her during her confinement. He never saw anything the matter with her while he attended her, but had not seen her for the last nine months. He examined the- body of the deceased, and saw that the face was very pale. There was a mark on the forehead, which was caused by some iniury. The ears, and the back of the neck looked very black, as were also the shoulders, which were much discoloured, and the chest, up to the collar bone. He attributed that to the connection of blood, as it was more black than it could be if made by a blow, and was not of the same colour as that on the forehead. The pupils of the eyes were much expanded or enlarged much morethan their natural size. There was matter, which had a frothy ap- pearance, and mixed with blood, running out of the left nostril. There was a great protraction of the tongue against the teeth, which were closed. The tongue was much enlarged. The neck was very supple, but witness could not say there was a dislocation without making post mortem examina- tion. There was also a discolouration under the nails. W itness was quite satisfied as to the cause of death, viz., that the deceased had met her death by suffocation, assisted by strangulation. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased was suffocated and strangled by the mother Catherine Jones, whilst in a state of temporary insanity. u--

GREAT RIOTS IN LANCASHIRE.

BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

I ITHE EASTERN CRISIS.

ROME.

i,FRANCE.

GERMANY.

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