Mary Robins

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Carolyn Woolley on 9th May 2021

The Standard - 23 July 1852summer assizes. OXFORD CIRCUIT. Worcester, July 21. Cbown CovM. (Before Mr. Justice CBE8SWELL.) MURDER. Mary Robins, alias Mary Ann Richards, aged 25, was indicted for tire murder of Lucy Richards, her illegitimate child, at Gldswinford, in this county. Mr.WhHinorj and Mr. Best appeared for the prosecution. The prisoner was defended by Mr. Huddleston. The prisoner was delivered of a female child on the 4th of Jane, in thetunion workhouse at Wolverliampton, where she had been admitted some time previously. About half-past twelve on the 19th June she left the workhouse with the child, which was properly clothed. It had had convulsions 'die day before, but was well then. On the 23d the dead b,)dy of a'child was discovered in the neighbourhood of Stourbridge in a fireclay pit, 46 feet deep, covered by whW. It was clothed. It was described by the surgeon vho made an examination as having several contusions on the body, and the membrane of the brain injured and the substance smashed. Oh cross-examination . it appeared that the injuries were unaccompanied by discoloration of the sHrfaco, as is usually the case in bruises and wounds caused before death. There was nothing in the appearance to indicate whether the child had bad convulsions or not, and it was consistent with those appearances thai the body bad been thrown down either during life or immediately afterwards. The prisoner was taken into custody on the 23d at her mother's house. When first oharged with the orime the prisoner said, " I u.iy not had a child for two years." On a subsequent oc- easton sue said, I have had a child at alary Ann Banister's, but it died after being put into a warm bath, and was buried at Bilston with a man who died of a fsver." At the time these statements were made the body had not been identified as that of the prisoner's child, but on( the 26th of June the nurses and attendants of the workhouse recognised it at the Stourbridge police station. The prisoner when she saw those persons fainted. Questions were put to her, the prisoner replies to which formed the principal evidence agai&et her. The witnesses varied to some extent in their account of the exact expressions used. One of them stated that the prisoner in answer to the question how eotdd you think of making away with the child, said, "The devil tempted me". Ann Manley, another nurse, said to her " How could yon he so unfeeling as to throw your own child into the pit r" and the prisoner replied that die sat down and HUckled her child, it had a fit, and she afterwards threw it down the pit. The version of the policeman's wife was that the prisoner said to Ann Manley, " Oh Manley, I did throw my child into the pit." Manley Baid to her, " How could you be such a cruel mother"? The prisoner replied ' Tlio devil tempted mo, and I threw it into the pit." Hho cried, and afterwards said the child had a At, and she auckled it, and it recovered, and thon she threw it into the pit. Mr. Huddleston addressed the jury, contending that the evidence was consistent with the supposition that Che child died of convulsions, and that it wax trie dead body that the mother disposed of, by throwing it into the pit. The Jury, after retiring, returned a verdict of Ouiltv, with a recommendation to mercy, on the ground of their belief that the prisoner, although of responsible understanding, was of weak iutelleot, Sentence of death was passed, tire learned judge stating that the recommeudatiou ahraM be forwarded to the Secretary of State, but ho'. Cling out no hope that the sentence would not be carri- into effect. i CIRCUIT.

221

D Wong on 28th May 2017

11/8/1852 Bury and Norwich Post Suffolk, England:Murder. Commutation of the sentence of death on Mary Robins, for the murder of her child, throwing it into a coal pit, has been granted on the ground that the convict was feeble. Mary Robins as 26 years old on arrival in VDL, she was born in Worcestershire, and was transported for 'Destroying her own child, 14 days old'. Mary was 4'11 3/4" tall, light hair, blue eyes, can read, left wrist has been burnt - subject to hysteria, unmarried, wesleyan. 30/8/1854: Permission to marry Edward Wells (free). 27/9/1854: Married at St John's church, Launceston, he was 38 and she was 28. 23/4/1856: Son, James William 17/2/1858: Son, Joseph born Launceston - died Launceston 1858. Edward was a printer, Launceston. 27/9/1859: CP September 1859: Application for admission to the Queen's Orphan School. Charles Edward Wells 4 years 11 months and 24 days old, and John William Wells 3 years 4 months and 24 days old. Father: Edward Wells, residence - Victoria, arrived per 'Palmyra', occupation: Compositor. Mother: Mary Robins/Wells - 15 Lower Collins Street, at Mr. Kennedy's - occupation; No employment. Note: The father of these children was for some time in a state of the greatest distress. It appears there was some wages due to him from the Insolvent Estate of the Telegraph Newspaper, he received £7 and went to Melbourne leaving the wife with the 2 children for whom admission is sought. It would have been more honorable had he first tried to get the children into the Asylum, and then have gone to Melbourne for now it is a question of ### whether the mother might not follow him without any incumberances.

6

carolyn on 28th May 2017

Threw her 3 week old baby into a pit