28. (M.) Mary, the wife of John Hinds < no role > proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 3537. , was indicted for the wilful murder of Edward Mulby proceedingsvictim , an infant , by throwing it into a pond , &c June 20 . +

Sarah Mulby < no role > . I live in Peter-street by Soho-square. My husband is a taylor. The prisoner lodged in the same room I did. My child Edward was five months old. The prisoner was going to see her brother-in-law in Old Bond-street; she took my child (being seemingly fond of it), and said she should not be gone above half an hour.

Q. What business was the prisoner?

S. Mulby. She said she was a servant out of place. She gave me part of a pint of beer when she went out with the child; she went up towards Tyburn Road; she set out a little after five in the afternoon on the 20th of June.

Q. How was the child dressed?

S. Mulby. In a brown skirt, an old flannel petticoat, an old white gown, an old laced cap, and a black cap over it; old things, I do not think they were all above a shilling value. I did not see the prisoner till about four months after. I saw the child on the Thursday following, being the 23d of June. I had inquired about the streets, workhouses, and hospitals, and I found it dead at St. George's Hospital; it looked as if it had been drowned; it was naked, but I knew it. I have here some of the things it had on, which were taken off it at the hospital ( producing a pair of stockings, yellow shoes, an old coat, and a black cap).

Q. How did you and this woman live together?

S. Mulby. We were not enemies, nor over great. She seemed to be fond of the child. My husband was then in trouble.

Q. What did the prisoner say when she was taken up?

S. Mulby. She said before the justice, that she met with a woman as she was going along that was going to see a place at Kensington. She set the child on the edge of the river, and it gave a spring out of her arms into the water.

Malachi Mulby < no role > . I am the father of the child. I took the prisoner in St. James's about a month ago. When she was before Justice Wright she owned she had rested herself upon her elbow, on a bridge in Hide Park, and that the child gave a jump out of her hands into the water.

Fra. Doby. I was going about business, and I met with the prisoner in Monmouth-street, the same Saturday night that she took the child out from its mother's.

Q. Was she sober, or otherwise?

F. Doby. She was sober. I did not speak to her; she was walking along with her hands before her.

Q. to Sarah Mulby < no role > . Was the prisoner sober when she parted from you with the child?

S. Mulby. I believe she had not drank before that day; she seemed very sober.

Prisoner's Defence.

We lodged in one room. I was an ironer to a landress at 3 s. a week. The poor woman was almost starved, and her child too. I had no money, and made away with an apron for 15 d. then we had some stakes and three pints of beer together. Then I said, if you'll let me take the child to my sister's I'll beg some silk to make it a black cap. She agreed to it. I took the child; and after that I met a young woman going to Kensington. She asked me to go along with her. I said I would, if she would help to carry the child. When we came to a house where are two centinels painted on wood at the door, near the park gate, we had half a pint of beer, and gave the child a crust, and went on towards Kensington. I stopped upon the bridge in the park, and suddenly the child gave a spring into the river. I strove to get it out; but being with child could not; and no foul was coming by at that time; and the woman was gone on. I was affrighted, and did not know what to do. I wished afterwards that I had returned to Mrs. Mulby.

Acquitted. Accidental Death .