A CHILD KILLED BY HER FATHER.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2003, 5 June 1875, Page 2

A CHILD KILLED BY HER FATHER.

At the Dorchester Assizes, on March, 10, James Senior, corndeafcr, was charged with the wilful murder of his .daughter,

Louisa Annie, at Sherbornef November^

last. Mr Balien-and Mr Castle prosecuted ; Mir Collins and Mr Batten

defended. Prisoner seemed in a very feeble slate, and throughout the trial sat rocking to and fro, with his hands on his

head, crying. The prisoner is a corndealer well known throughout Dorset, Somerset, and Wilts, from attending the

markets, a man fifty-four years of-- age; and his little victim was nine years of age, the only remaining child of six. He -wag) very fond of her, and she lay dangerously ill of scarlet fever. , This greatly depressed him. On Sunday he was very Much "out of sorts," and when asked -by.""' friend to accompany him to church £^^|L said, " No, she (his daughter) had^^i asked him to hare tea with her oa 4: 1 her last Sunday." , About midnight "- on Monday, Senior whetted a garvV-T ; ing-knife, and going up ta the cljJH4sfc^ 'bedroom, when her mother was m"onjj» tarily below, he thrust the carving--§Bnfe completely through her body—the Weapon passed through her chest, and she died instantly. Hearing the little girl say, 'f Oh, father, what are youdoing P " Mrs Senior ratt".upstairs, to-find the poor, child weltering in blood and stark dead. He told her that "he bad done it." Her

screams attracted neighbours; and: Mr Cook going up, he said, quite calmly, " Look at her ! there she is ; she suffered much, but she won't any more." To Mr Turner, surgeon, he said he *' did it from fear of poverty." He quietly "went to the police-station, and when charged said; '.' I could not see her suffer and want. She's dead, and I shall be hung for itf." "To^is wife, who was much affected, fie said/Oh, don't cry; it's nothing.' The defence'"of insanity was set up, and a large numbW of - witnesses being called. It was proved that he was a most affectionate husband, and '. devotedly fond of his child"; that in 1871 he was» thrown from a. carriage,, and sustained a slight concussion of the brain j and injury "to the spine, after wKicK «T change was noticed in liim: .From being cheery and having a word for everybody, hie became-moody arid reserved, strange in his manner, and' absent-minded. On 3rd November, when the doctor, said his child had'ij&carlet- fever,-he wrung his hand, and* said, "Dear, dear, lam most unfortunate ; nothing happens' tin v Sherborne but it fall* on* me." From that time he was constantly in and out of thes. child's room night and day, and said to x several he could not live if she were to diey Before this evidence was concluded his lordship intimated'there 'was enough, and under his direction the jury returned a verdict of." Not guilty," on the ground of insanity, and the prisoner was ordered detained during her Majesty's pleasure.