From the Kentish Chronicle, Saturday, 17 September, 1859. Price 1½d.

TEMPORARY INSANITY – PECUNIARY DIFFICULTIES

During the past week, C. J. Fox, Esq., deputy coroner held at the “Carpenter's Arms” an inquest on the body of William Terry, a shoemaker, who was found hanging the previous day. James Benstead deposed that he was called to the deceased house about 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning. All the doors were fastened, but he effected an entrance through the window. In the inner shop he found the deceased hanging by the neck and quite dead. Witness believed the deceased had been hanging about two hours. The deceased had been in a strange state of mind for the past five weeks, evidently caused by pecuniary difficulties. The testimony was corroborated by George Drury, and the jury returned a verdict of “Temporary Insanity.”

From the Kentish Chronicle, 30 March, 1861.

MURDER OF AN INFANT AT EASTLING.

On Monday T. T. Delasaux, Esq. and a respectable jury held an inquest at the “Carpenter’s Arms Inn,” touching the death of the infant child of a young woman named Francis Millgate, and also to enquire into the circumstances attending the death of the said Francis Millgate, the infants mother. The circumstances be best gathered in the evidence adduced.

Agnes Eliza Millgate, aged 13 years, deposed:- The deceased Francis Millgate, was my aunt, and I usually slept with her and did so on Saturday night. About eleven o'clock the deceased complained of pain in her stomach, and I went and got a bottle of peppermint water, out of which she drank a small quantity. I then got into bed again, and heard my aunt say “Oh, dear,” several times. Indeed she continued to do so for nearly an hour. I then went to sleep and did not hear her again. I got up about half-past six o’clock yesterday (Sunday) morning, and left my aunt walking about in the bedroom. She appeared to be in great pain. After I had been down stairs for about an hour, I went up again to my grandmother's room, and saw my aunt kneeling down as if saying her prayers. I then went down, and did not see my aunt again till she was dead. She got out of bed several times in the night, between eleven o’clock and the time I went to sleep, and she told me not to say anything to anyone about her being ill.

Stephen Millgate, labourer, deposed:- The deceased Frances Millgate was my daughter, and 18 years of age. Two or three weeks ago I had Mr. Roberts, a surgeon, to examine her, and he stated that she was in the family way. This, however, she positively denied. About half-past eight o'clock, yesterday (Sunday) morning. I went for the doctor, who came in a short time.

Amy Goldup, widow, deposed:- I have known the deceased Frances Millgate all her life, having lived next door to her further for upwards of twenty years. I was called in yesterday morning, and on going upstairs I saw the deceased lying on the bed insensible. I remained with her about an hour, when the surgeon came, but she had expired about half an hour before his arrival. He then, in my presence, took the bedclothes off and examined the deceased, when a female child was discovered wrapped up in a piece of flannel and an apron, the latter of which I believe belonged to the deceased. There was a stay-lace tied round the neck of the child which had been taken from the stays of the young woman.

Mr. C. W. Roberte, of Newnham, surgeon, deposed:- About three mouths ago I was sent for to examine the deceased Frances Millgate and was then satisfied she was in the family way, which she positively denied. Yesterday morning I was sent for and found her in bed dead, with a female child, also dead, concealed under her body. On examining the body of the infant I was quite satisfied it had been born alive. There was a stay-lace tied tightly round its neck, which I am quite satisfied caused its death. I have made a post mortem examination of the body of Frances Millgate, and found that she had recently been delivered of a child, and that she had died from loss of blood consequent on want of proper surgical attendance. I am led to the conclusion that the infant was born alive from the appearance of the mark made by the stay-lace round its neck and from the congested appearance of the face. I found Frances Millgate’s stomach perfectly healthy, but it contained only a little farinaceous food partially digested.

Stephen Millgnte, recalled, said:- My wife took the deceased some tea about seven o'clock, having previously taken her some gruel.

This being the whole of the evidence the coroner carefully summed up, and the jury after deliberating for a short time, found a verdict of “wilful murder,” against the deceased Frances Millgate, in the case of the infant, and that Frances Millgate subsequently died from “natural causes.”