Old Bailey Proceedings:
Old Bailey Proceedings: Accounts of Criminal Trials

27th February 1718

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Currently Held: Harvard University Library

LL ref: t17180227-41




Eleanor Gallimore proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 3754. of St. Andrew's Holbourn , was indicted for the Murther of Richard Pugh proceedingsvictim , an Infant of ten Months old , by not allowing it sufficient Meat, Drink and due Attendance, by which Means it languish'd from the 23th of January to the 12th of February, and then died. It appeared by the Evidence that the Prisoner was a Parish-Nurse , and had five young Children of different Ages to keep; and that she took two Twins, of which the Deceas'd Richard Pugh was one, for the which she contracted with the Father for 10 l. to take them for good and all. The Mother of the Child deposed, That she had been an unfortunate Woman and had Two Twins, who were by the Father of them taken from her and put to Mary Gallimore < no role > This name instance is in set 3754. upon the Condition before-mention'd, and that he would give her no Account where they were to be, but that she Follow'd them when taken from her, and went to the House, but Gallimore would not permit her to come in; that she went afterwards several times and she would not let her in, and that she heard frequently the Children crying vehemently, and the Door lock'd up and she out of Doors, and no body to look after the Children; and that when she went and Gallimore was at home, Gallimore always hector'd her, threatned her, forwarn'd her of the House, and would not permit her to visit them and see how they were look'd after. This was confirm'd by other Evidence, who added, that she would go out and leave the five Children for half a Day together, and sometimes stay out all Night a drunknaing , and use the Children cruelly; and that when the Child Richard Pugh died, one Evidence deposed she went in and found the Child wrapped in a piece of an old Rag and laid under the Dresser; but none of the Evidence did say that she used any violent Methods to make the Children away. The Mother likewise added, that when the Child was dead, all the back Parts of it were in a sad Condition, locking like an Ox Liver parboil'd. And on the other ha nd , she on her side produced some Persons who said that when Gallimore was out she left them Victuals &c. and that she had used to feed them, turn them dry, &c. And although it did appear she had been negligent , yet there was not Evidence to support the Indictment, which was laid for Murther. The Jury considering the Matter, acquitted her.




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