Sarah Anne Swann Child Murderer

Sarah Ann Swann, 25, was indicted for the willful murder of her newborn child.

The prisoner had been a domestic servant to Mr Gould, a licensed victualler. On the 22 November 1880 she was under notice to leave her duties. Early on that morning she complained of illness and a medical man was called. She left at 9am, however by 10.30 the landlord of the public house heard a noise of groaning from the coal cellar.

The potman found a newly born female child, lying on the coals, quite naked, with a piece of coal on her head. The child was quickly taken to the infirmary, where sadly she died the same night. On the child was found a lacerated wound and other injuries on the child's head, and had died from effusion of blood on the brain caused by the injuries and cold exposure.

Sarah Ann Swann had a verdict of manslaughter served on her and was sentenced to five years penal servitude.

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Clara Humphries Victorian child murderess

Clara Humphries aged 21years and 8 months, a domestic servant, was committed to prison for the attempted murder of her illegitimate child by strangulation in 1882.

On the day in question she was observed by her mistress, Mrs Young, to be unwell, and was directed to go to bed. Mrs Young followed Clara and while she was in the room she heard the cry of a child, which was in a box, with a piece of tape fastened round it's neck.

The baby had lived for several hours afterwards, and, according to the medical evidence, death resulted from extravasation of blood to the brain.

The defence was that the extravasation was the result of an accident during birth and that the application of the tape round the neck was done during a paroxysm of insanity.

The jury found the prisoner guilty but recommended her to mercy. Clara was sentenced to serve five years penal servitude.

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