Rushden Research Group: manslaughter

The Rushden Echo, 26th January, 2nd and 9th February 1900, transcribed by Jim Hollis

The Charge of Manslaughter at Rushden

The Child’s Body Exhumed

Our readers will remember that at the Wellingborough Police-court, last Friday, Sarah Hanger, a married woman, residing at Cromwell-road, Rushden, was charged with neglecting her children, and the Magistrates ordered the charge of cruelty to be adjourned and the more serious charge of manslaughter preferred against her. The evidence showed that the youngest of the four children mentioned in the charge, the one aged 11 weeks only, had died on the previous Sunday, and Dr. C. R. Owen deposed that when he saw the child it was suffering from wasting, caused by neglect. He, however, gave a certificate showing that death was due to marasmus (wasting), and he stated in Court that he had not known that a charge of cruelty was to be brought against the mother; he should have notified the Coroner. As the doctor gave a certificate, no inquest was held, and the child’s body was buried. During the week the Public Prosecutor was communicated with, and he ordered the exhumation of the body, which was fixed for this (Friday) morning.

The Exhumation

took place as arranged at the Cemetery this morning. The grave was situated not far from the principal entrance gate, and on the top of the mound was a piece of evergreen. At eleven o’clock, Mr. Bayes, the Cemetery keeper, was met at the graveside by P.S. Birrill, and the work was commenced by the former. The only other persons present were a representative of Messrs. Walker and Everard, and a representative of the Rushden Echo. The weather was blustering and cold and it seemed a terribly long time before Mr. Bayes was able to announce that he could here the hollow sound caused by working above the coffin. It was not really so long as it seemed, for in less than half-an-hour the little deal coffin – woefully little – had been bared and brought to the surface. It was at once carried to the Cemetery Chapel, where a

Post-Mortem Examination

was made by Dr. Hollis, of Wellingborough. Just between the chapel doors, a small operating table had been formed of trestles and boards, and the coffin was laid beside it. Punctually at 12 o’clock Dr. Hollis arrived, and the coffin was thereupon opened, and the body was found to be wonderfully preserved, bearing in mind the fact that death took place 12 days since. The exhumation then proceeded and the result will be given in our report of the inquest.

The Inquest

was held at the Vestry Hall at two o’clock this afternoon, by Mr. J. T. Parker, Coroner, and a jury of eighteen.

Mr. G. Fountain was foreman of the jury.

Mr. J. Jackson, solicitor, Northampton, and Inspector Ward, represented the N.S.P.C., and the Police were represented by Supt. Alexander, Inspector Brown, and P.S. Birrill.

Mrs. Hanger, the mother of the deceased, was also present.

The Coroner, in opening the proceedings narrated the steps leading to the inquiry, as set out above.

The first witness called was Thomas Hanger, the father of the deceased child. In reply to a question as to whether he would give evidence, the witness said. “Well, I don’t know as a can say anything, but

She Didn’t Kill It,

we know.” His evidence was therefore not taken.

John Davis Butcher, Oswald-road, carpenter and joiner, said he was employed by Messrs. Walker and Everard, undertakers at the burial of the deceased child on January 18. The body was disinterred this morning and removed to the Cemetery Chapel.

Inspector Ward said that at 2 o’clock in the afternoon of the 4th inst he visited the house of Mrs. Hanger in Cromwell-road, where he examined the child Clara, since deceased. The child was very pale and very much emaciated. He weighed it in the mother’s presence and found its weight to be 6lbs including its clothing. The normal weight of a child that age was 9Ibs. 2oz. the child’s hands were blue with cold; it had been lying near the window. He asked Mrs. Hanger how she accounted for the child’s condition and she said she didn’t know; she did the best for it. It was a fine baby when it was born but about a month ago it was taken ill. Mrs. Hanger said she had had two children taken the same way during the past two years, and they had died. They were insured. She stated that her husband earned 15s a week and gave it all to her. She further stated that though she used to take some drink she had not had much lately. Mrs. Hanger told him that all four of her children were insured. Witness visited the house again on the 12th inst. and saw the deceased again. It appeared to be about the same as it was on the 4th, but there was some milk on the table with which the deceased said she was feeding the child. The house was filthy dirty. The deceased was sufficiently clothed. In the wife’s presence, the husband said his wife had been of drunken habits but not lately to his knowledge. The man was steady.

(Case proceeding)

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To-Day’s Magisterial Proceedings

At the Wellingborough Police-court this morning, Sarah Hanger was brought up on remand, charged with causing the death of her child Clara Hanger, aged 11 weeks, at Rushden, on January 14th, when Mr. James Jackson, of Northampton, who had been instructed by the Treasury to prosecute, asked for another remand. There was, he said, to be an inquest, and it was desirable that the proceedings then should be concluded before the magistrates’ examination was continued. As the Assizes take place next week he, however, suggested an early date for the adjourned hearing. – Prisoner remarked that she had some witnesses she wished to call, and the magistrate informed her that she could call them at the adjournment. – Prisoner was then remanded to Northampton Gaol until Tuesday next.

2nd February 1900

The Prisoner Committed for Trial

In last week’s issue, our readers will remember, a considerable portion of the evidence given at the inquest on the exhumed body of the infant, Clara Hanger, was given, but we were unable to give the result, owing to the necessity of going to press before the inquiry concluded. It will be remembered that at the previous week’s Wellingborough Petty Sessions the mother Sarah Hanger, of Cromwell-road, Rushden, was charged with neglecting her four children, and it transpired that the youngest child had died and that its end had been probably hastened by neglect. The case was adjourned, and subsequently the Public Prosecutor was communicated with, the result being that an order was obtained to exhume the body. This was accordingly done on Friday, and a post mortem examination was held. The medical evidence adduced at the inquest held later was to the effect that the child had not suffered from any organic disease, but the appearances were consistent with starvation and neglect. Ultimately the Jury returned a verdict of “Manslaughter” against Sarah Hanger, who was thereupon committed to the Assizes for trial. The inquiry lasted over four hours, and the result was awaited with sad interest by a considerable crowd outside the Vestry-hall.

THE MAGISTERIAL PROCEEDINGS

At the Wellingborough Police Court on Tuesday morning Mrs. Hanger was brought up on remand on the charge of feloniously killing her child, Clara Hanger, aged 11 weeks, on January 14. The magistrates on the bench were Mr. C.J.K. Wollaston, Mr. William Brown, Mr. Edward Sharman, and Mr. E. B. Randall.

Mr. James Jackson, of Northampton, appeared to prosecute on behalf of the Treasury, whilst prisoner was undefended.

The evidence given at the inquest, was repeated.

Mr. William Pye, master of the Wellingboro’ Workhouse then gave evidence. He stated that on the 19^th Jan. Inspector Ward of the N.S.P.C.C. took an infant named James Hanger, aged 18 months, to the House. The child was in a very low and weak condition, and when given food it ate very ravenously. Witness noticed that the child’s legs were very cold, and appeared to be almost useless. During the time it had been in the Workhouse the child had considerably improved in condition.

George Bayes, school attendance officer, Rushden, said he had known prisoner and her husband for some time. The husband was a steady and industrious man, regular at his work. Witness had visited the house a number of times in consequence of the irregular attendance at School of the eldest child, and on several occasions when that child did attend he had to call upon the mother to tell her to send the child in a more cleanly condition. He had noticed the condition of the other children, and on one occasion when he called in the afternoon he saw two of the children lying on the floor, the mother being out. On other occasions too, he had found the children alone in the house. The Prisoner was addicted to drink, and he had seen her in the street drunk, as well as in her own house. The general condition of the house was very dirty, and it smelled badly. Prisoner was committed for trial to the Assizes.

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The Rushden Echo, 9^th February, 1900

THE RUSHDEN MANSLAUGHTER CASE - PRISONER FOUND GUILTY

At Northampton Winter Assizes on Wednesday, before the Lord Chief Justice, Sarah Hanger, wife of Thomas Hanger, of Cromwell-road, Rushden, was charged with the manslaughter of her daughter, Clara Hanger, aged 11 weeks, at Rushden, on January 14^th.

Mr. Bonner appeared for the prosecution. The prisoner was undefended.

Inspector Ward, N.S.P.C.C., said on January 4^th he visited the prisoner’s house at Rushden. The deceased girl was in a cradle under the window. She was in an advanced state of emaciation, and blue with cold. The rooms were filthy dirty, and there were no blankets on the bed. Prisoner said the husband gave her the whole of his earning – 15s. a week – for housekeeping, and the children were all insured. Dr. Owen was called in, and fed the children, and the deceased took some milk ravenously.

Dr. C.R. Owen, Rushden, said that on January 4^th the child was very weak and thin, and the skin was in folds over the arms and legs. He told the mother the child was starving and advised her to give it cow’s milk. Witness gave the child some milk and water, and it took it ravenously. On the 18^th witness went to the house again. The child was very weakly.

His Lordship: Was it dying?

Witness: It was not practically dying on that day, it had been dying for some days from starvation. The child was in an advanced stage of starvation on the 4^th. The child died on the 14^th, and on the 15^th he gave a certificate of death from marasmus, or wasting through want of proper nourishment.

His Lordship; Why did you not say on the certificate, “Wasting caused by starvation”?

Witness: We always put “Marasmus.”

His Lordship: I think it is a matter you should reconsider.

Witness: I could not tell what it was through. It might have been disease.

His Lordship: I understand you to say that on January 4^th it was in an advanced state of starvation?

Witness: Yes, Sir, from the want of proper nourishment.

His Lordship: Therefore “wasting” is the literal translation of that word?

Witness: Yes, but it might be from want of nourishment or disease.

The Lord Chief Justice (handing the doctor a certificate) : That’s the certificate you gave on January 4^th to the inspector. Just look at it.

Witness: Yes.

The Lord Chief Justice: Let me have it. I will read a portion of it. “Child, Clara Hanger, 11 weeks, practically starved; very thin; ribs prominent; skin in folds on arms and legs; condition caused by want of proper nourishment. House dirty.” Did you on January 4^th, or not, come to the conclusion that the child was in an advanced state of starvation owing to want of nourishment?

Witness: Yes.

Examination continued: The body was exhumed on the 25^th, and Dr. Hollis made a post-mortem examination. Witness attended the examination. There was no sign of organic disease, and there was an entire absence of fat. The walls of the stomach were very thin, indicating starvation. The weight of the body was about 5 ½ pounds, the average weight being between 9 and 10 pounds.

Witness now attributed death to the want of proper nourishment.

His Lordship: In other words, “starvation.”

The prisoner said that Dr. Owen’s assistant attended the child for two months.

Mr. Bonner: We have identified the assistant, but we cannot find him. He has left Dr. Owen.

J. D. Butcher, undertaker, Rushden, proved the burial of the child and its exhumation.

Dr. Hollis gave evidence as to the post mortem examination. Death was caused by want of food: all the organs were healthy.

Wallace Bone said that he had supplied Mrs. Hanger with milk. She used to have a quarter of a pint a day. On the 7^th she increased the amount to half a pint a day. Now and again she had a pint on Sundays.

George Bayes, Sanitary Inspector and School Attendance Officer, said that the prisoner had been addicted to drink. He had seen her drunk. He saw her drunk in her house four months ago. The house was always dirty.

W. Chettle, beerhouse keeper, and Sergt. Birrill also gave evidence.

Prisoner elected to give evidence on oath, and said the child had always had plenty of nourishment and was warmly clothed.

Prisoner called Mrs. Short (her mother) and Clara Short (her sister), who stated that the mother did the best she could for the child.

The Lord Chief Justice in summing up told the jury that if they believed the prisoner was guilty of culpable, gross neglect of the child she was guilty of the offence with which she was charged.

The jury found the prisoner guilty.

The Lord Chief Justice recalled Inspector Ward, and enquired what was happening to the other poor children.

Inspector Ward said the lad James was in the Wellingborough Workhouse getting on nicely. Since being taken there he had gained 3 lbs. in weight.

The Lord Chief Justice: I must consider what I will do.

The prisoner was brought up for sentence yesterday morning.

Addressing the prisoner, his Lordship said: You have been found guilty by the jury, after a patient hearing, of a most inhuman crime – namely, culpable, deliberate, and wicked neglect of the simplest duties of maternity towards your own offspring, and you have no excuse. You have a husband of a good type of his class, in a humble position, bringing his earnings home to you instead of squandering his money, and you are led into drunken habits, for that, I take to be the explanation of your grievous misconduct. This is a very serious crime, and if I err at all I feel it is on the side of leniency in not sending you to penal servitude. The sentence that I pass upon you is that you be sent to prison and kept to hard labour for eighteen calendar months.