Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times

DISTRESSING AFFAIR AT WELSHPOOL. SERTANT GIRL COMMITTED FOR MANSLAUGHTER. A painful sensation was caused in Welshpoel on Meuday morning, when the news spread that a gJVUkb a^out 16 years of age. had Sin? J'? t0 °hiId Und8r ofW3am«fctt*teH which P ted to au attempt at ooneealment ef birth. The 8 nanut is Margaret Burgess, whose *fu 1D t,he town> bufe who has ior »om& jaonths been in the service ef Mr Proetor tebacconisb, of Hall-street. She appeared to be a atroug and healthy girl and went eheerfully about j Tr#rk* unusual wag noticed about her, an* it was never for a moment expected that she was enciente. However, after going about her work as usual oa Saturday, ah* went out into tke closet at the rjar ef the house, and from what subsequently transpired, there gave birth to a female child. She said nothing of the matter to her mistress, but shortly afterwards whilsi in the kitchen, exelaimed Oh Mrs Preotor, I do feel bad," and eollapsed in a faint on the floor. She was eventually put to bed, and suspicious being aroused was pressed as to what had happened, when she admitted baring given birth to A kaby, ivhioh she said was dead and she had throw* it in the ashpit. Here the body was discovered. Dr. Mence was called in to attend the girl, and P.S. Poole was informed of tke occurrence.

THE INQUEST. On Tuesday affcerneon the death of the child or*ittd the subject of an enqmiry at the Town a") before Dr R. D. Thomas, one of the ceroners the county, and a jury ef which Mr P. Price was "e foreman. The first witness called was Susy Proctor, the th t ft'°hard Proctor, 6, Hall street, who stated a< khe sjirl Margaret Burgess was in her employ a dotnestie servant, and had been with her SInce the 18th August, 1903. She was about 16 of age, and was a strong healthy girl so far as Wit*1668 ^new" ^ac' D°k complft'ned nor had g '11688 noticed anything as to her condition. On Qr(l*y night sho was sent en a message and th Urn#^ about nine in the evening. She walkod r°ugh the shop and wont into the bank kitohen. Witness asked her to get eoals from the baokyard and as the girl was away abomt a quarter of an hoar witness went in eairoh of her. At the door she met the girl with the coal on a shovel and took them from her. A little later oa going into the kitchen she 'saw Margaret wiping her hands on a towel behind the door. She said Oh, Mrs Prootor, I do feel bad," and then fell on the floor apparently in a faint. Witness called Louisa Proctor, and they lifted the girl into a chair. She also called in Mrs Ann Jones from across the street, and when the girl had reeovered somewhat, Mrs Jones lifted her on to the sofa. It was then between ten and half past, and when Maggie had recavered herself they asked her if she would like to go home and rest till Monday. The girl said No." Witness then said she had better go to bed, and she did so in a little while. Afterwards witness went into the back kitohen again and then noticed some bleod on the floer, to which she drew Louisa Proctor's attention again. They got Mrs Jones back again and they came to the conclusion something was wrong. The others went upstairs to the girl and witness went for Dr Mence Louisa Proctor, whose home is at Llanfair, who was visiting Mrs Proctor on Saturday evening, and had stayed there since, corroborated the previous witness's evidence as to finding Margaret Burgess in the back kitchen in a fainting"' ondition. It was witness who asked the girl if she would like to go home till Monday. She replied Oh no, I shall be better soon." Witness then said Will you go to bed and Burgess replied Not yet." A little later witness again said she had better go to bed, and she would bring her up a cup of tea. The girl raised herself up but seemed weak. She got her a candle and saw her go upstairs. On follow- ing a few minutes later witness found she was just getting into bed, and she said in response to a question she felt better. When witness had seen her safely into bad aLe went down stairs and then Mrs Proctor called Oh Louie do come here and look at what is on the floor." She went and seeing the blood said, something mast Jaave happened." They traoed the blood across the kitchen in spots and up the stairs, and Mrs Jones was again summoned. She went up to the girl's bedroom along with Mrs Jenes, and they asked the girl what was the matter. She replied It's nothing only what is natural." Witness said it was something more than that and went and aaked Mrs Prootor whether they had not better have a. doctor. Whilst Mrs Proctor wa,s going for Dr Mence witness returned to the bedroom and asked the girl the straight question Maggie, have you had a baby ?" She replied "No" but on being pressed admitted that she bad. Mrs Jeues said Where is it ?" Maggie then said It was dead, and I threw it in the midden." I again said are you sure it was dead ?" and she replied Yes." Mrs Ann Jones, 1, Hall street, gave evidence as to being called across to Mrs Proctor's and finding the girl in a faint. Witness rubbed her hands and moistened her lips with brandy and she came round. Later, witness was again called in and having been shown the blood on the floor went upstairs with Miss Proctor. "She told the girl she thought she had had a miscarriage, and she replied Nothing of the kind." Witness said, "Tell the truth, it will be better for you. She admitted that she had, and then after Miss Proctor pressed her told them about the baby. She said, "I threw it in the middin be- cause it was dead." Witness went outside and after searching saw the body, quite naked, in a corner of the ashpit. P.S. Poole gave evidence to his being called to the honse. He took tte body from the ashpit, and on making a search and examination of the pre. mises found bloodmarks in the kitchen, in the yard, and in the closet. In the ash-pit he also found a piece of calieo covered with blood. The floor of the closet had apparently been recently washed. Dr Mence gave evidence as to his being called in to attend the girl. She allowed him to examine her and he came to the conclusion she had been recently delivered of a child. Afterwards he went into the backyard and saw the body in the ashpit Having satisfied himself it was dead he summoneu the police. Next morning, on the Coroner's order, he made a post-mortem on the body. The body was that of a full-formed female child, eighteen inches in length, and weighing 6lbs. The usual weight of a healthy child at birth was from six to eight pounds. Externally he saw on the right side of the head a large swelling, 5 inches long and 2§ inches wide. The skin over it was scratched. On the left aide towards the back of the head was a similar but smaller swelling. There were soratches en both sides of the neck, more especially on the left side, about midway between the jaw and the breastbone. One was about an inch and a half long, and the others were smaller. The umbilical cord was frayed whore ifc had been severed. It was not cut clean, but was jagged. On opening the skull he found the bones fractured in many places, the temporal bone being almost severed from its con- nections with the rest of the skull. The mem- branes of the brain were lacerated and the brain matter was escaping. The swelling on the left side of the head contained blood alone, and the bone underneath was fractured right across. The lungs were small only partially filling the cavity. Por. tions of both lungs floated in water, and the air vehicles were visible to the naked eye. The stomach and upper intestine were also distended with air. The child was a healthy child and he was satisfied a full termed child. He tried the tests laid by the profession to discover whether the child was born alive and came to the opinion that it was born alive, and had a separate existence from its mother. He thought the scratches on the neck were caused by finger nails, but might be the resuit of tke girl assiating herself. The bones were sneh as one expected to find, not thinner than usual, and such extensive injury could not be done by a precipitate birth and the child falling on some hard substance. Consiberable violence must have been used to cause the injuries. The cause of death was de. struction of the vital centres of the brain.-By Mr Yearsley The child had only breathed a few times, but he was of opinion the injuries were caused prior to death. The Coroner summed up at length, and, having reviewed the evidence, said tbac the jury would have to find whether they believed the medical evidence that the child lived, and that its death was due to violence as stated by the doctor. If they believed that evidence they would also have to say who used the violence, and whether it was pre- meditated or done on the spur of the moment. If the former the verdict would be one of murder and if the latter one of manslaughter. After twenty minutes deliberation the jury re- turned a verdict of manslaughter, and upon that oharge the girl now stands committed to take her trial.

TARIFF REFORM COMMrrTEE FOR NORTH WALES. A conference was held at the Queen Hotel, Chester, on Saturday in furtherance of the objects of the Imperial Tariff Committee. The conference was private. Colonel Cornwallis West presided, and among those present were Lord Kenyon, Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, the Hon. G. T. Kenyon, M.P., Colonel Pryce-Jones, M.P., Colonel Mousley) Rev T. F. Reese, Rev W. Morgan (Bethesda), Colonel Mellor (Abergele), Mr Richard Conway (Llandudno), Mr David Williams (Bangor), Mr W. J. Lewis, Mr Thomas Bate, Mr Gordon Roberts (Car- narvon), and Mr C. A. Vince, general secretary of the Imperial Tariff Committee. Letters of apology for absence and expressing sympathy with the movement were received from the Duke of West- minster, Lord Mostyn, Lord Penrhyn, Sir Hugh lllis-Nanney, Sir Richard Williams-Bulkeley, Sir Lawrence Brodrick, Hon. W. W. Yivian, Mr Addie, and Mr Stanley J. Weyman. The chief purpose of the meeting was to appoint a tariff committee for North Wales and discuss methods for the ad. vocasy of tariff reform. After short speeches by the chairman and Mr Vince the following resolu- tion was moved by the Hon George Kenyon, M.P., seconded by Cel Pryee-Jonee, M.P., and carried unanimously (a) That an Association be formed, to be called the North Wales Imperial Tariff Association, (b) That such Association shall consist of (1) all persons attending this conference; (2) all persons invited to this conference who have signified their approval of the purposes of the Committee and (3) all persons resident or having voting qualifications in North Wales who promise active assistance in promoting the objects of the Committee, (c) That the purposes of the Associ- ation shall be those defined in the circular of the Imperial Tariff Committee dated October 30, 1903." The Dake of Westminster was appointed presi- dent of the Association. Colonel Cornwallis West will be treasurer. The appointment of secretary was left to the Executive Committee, but Mr W. Jenkins, organising secretary of the Imperial Tariff Committee, will act as secretary pro tem. 'n The following were appointed vice-presidents :■— The Bad of Powis, Lord Kenyon, Lord Mosbyu, Lord Peurbyn, Sir Watkiu Williams-Wynn, the Hou. George Kenyon, M.P., and Colonel Pryce- Jones, M P. It was also resolved that the following form the Executive Committee: Major R. W. Williams-Wynn (Montgomeryshire), Mr A W. Pryce-Jones (Montgomery Boroughs), Rev. Canon Hughes (Merionethshire), Mr J. Rice Roberts (Anglesey), Mr J. Issard Davies (Carnarvon), Mr H. Kneeshaw (Carnarvon), Mr Thomas Bate (Flint), Mr T. W. Hughes (Flint), Colonel J. E. Mellor (Denbighshire), Mr T. A. Acton (Denbigh. shire Boroughs), Mr T. Darlington (Chirk) Mr Stanley J. Weyman (Ruthin), Mr Lloyd Jones (Ruabon), Rev. T. F. Reece (Denbighshire), Mr J. Whittingham (Denbigh Boroughs), Mr W. J. Lewis (Machynlleth), Mr W. J. T. Storey (Fliut), Hon. W. W. Vivian (Carnarvonshire, Arfon), Mr Lloyd Carter (Carnarvon Boroughs), Mr Gordon Roberts (Anglesey), and Mr George Erie (Carnarvon Boroughs).

-+- 5TH VOLUNTEER BATTALION THE SOOTH YVALI S BORDERERS. REGIMENTAL ORDERS By LIKDXENANT-COLONEL E. PRYCE-JONES, M.P., Commanding. Headquarters, Newtown, 16th January, 1904. ENROLMENTS.—The undermentioned having been enrolled at Llanidloes are taken on the strength of the Battalion, posted te A Company, and allotted Regimental numbers as follows :-1319 R. A. Edwards, 1320 R. O. George, 1321 A. Rees 1322 T. P. Williams, 1323 M. Mills, 1324 T. F. 0 -v'en 1325 W. Corbett. STRUCK OFF.—The undermentioned arc struck off the strength of the Battalion fiorn this date: — C Co. 1009 Pte C. Thomson and 593 Pte J. Davies. F Co.: 441 Pte H. Jones, 657 Pte B. it. Jones, 955 Pte R. Hughes, 966 Pte E. D. Hughes (Towvn), 776 Sergt R. Williams, 779 Cpl E. L. Rowlands, 796 Pte W. Goodchild (Aberdovey). By Order, F. GILLESPIE, Captain. Adjutant 5th;V.B. South Wales Borderers.