Murder and Mutilation.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 17, 19 July 1883, Page 3

Murder and Mutilation.

♦ At the Stafford assize Th ni;i« Mayos and Mary Elizabeth Mayo--. ' his wife, were indicted for the wilful murder of a daughter of die furn-er by a previous marriage. The man ;- a gardener, 42 years of a^, whilst the woman's age was given at 30. though she appeared nearly (30 In December last the prisoner In ft Shrewsbury and went to live at Kymersley. n ar Wellington, the man taking a situation as groom. On 10th January, the child was not'eed by a neighbor to have two black eyes, a wound on the elbow, and injuries, which* she 'stated her mother had caused with a stick. A few days later the child was heard screaming in the house, whilst the sounds of what appeared to be the lashing of the strap with a buckle attached to it ■was heard. On the Ist of February the child was last seen alive. Next day the female prisoner told some neighbours that she had sent the child to Shrewsbury, and witnesses testified to seeing her carrying a large bundle on 9th February. Mr Jos. Bates, a Wellington gentleman, was near Aplepool, when his dog discovered a human head, which was pron unced to have been boiled. Di Bond also gave it as his decided opinion that irjuiries sufficient to cause death must have been inflicted during life. 'i he child's legs were found lying in a pool. When arrested the prisoners made contradictory statements. The woman states that the death wa3 accidental, and that the mutilation was effected to conceal the body. She was wishing the child's death not to be known, inasmuch as she was known to have cruelly treated her. A painful scene took place when William Mapos, aged 13, a brother of the deceased, wa3 giving evidence against his stepmother. 'Ihe lad burst into tears, and could not proceed with his evidence for a little time, the business of the court being meanwhile sußpened. The prisoners also cried bitterly, the woman wringing j her hands. The Juti^e sentenced the female prisoner to 20 years' penal servitude, and the man to 18 months' hard labour. •