Please activate JavaScript!
Please install Adobe Flash Player, click here for download
ePaper created 2014-04-08, 18:05:31 | version 1.29.01
48 me by an order and a bailiff. My sister took him. It was seven weeks old then. The prisoner was before this decreed £5 lying-in money. The child was healthy when I parted with it. The prisoner’s sister came for me after I sent him the child. I went, and a man who was in the house said the child had been stolen and asked me if I had it. I said not. The prisoner said he was out fastening the mare in the bog and when he came in the child was away. I saw it again at the inquest. There were three large marks of violence its face. I thought the pig might have killed it and said so when it was missed, but the prisoner said he thought not.’ [Cross-examined by Mr. McMehan] – ‘The prisoner wanted a fortune with me but I had none. I think if the pig had killed the child, the prisoner would not have liked to say so.’ Margaret Montgomery examined by Sir T. Staples – ‘I am the sister of the last witness. I took the child home to the prisoner and laid it on his arm. My brother told him to take care of it. I went the next day but they would not let me see the child. I never saw it again.’ Malcolm McMullan examined – ‘I saw the child several times. It appeared healthy and well. I did not see it on the 9th June but I saw it a day or two previously. On that day the prisoner came to my house and told me he had lost the child. He wondered what could come of it. I said maybe the pig had destroyed it. He said not, for the pig had not been out since the middle of the day. The sister then said she had left the child on the bed when she went out to milk and the prisoner said he had gone out to fetter the mare and when he came back it was away. He wondered if the “wee-folk” or fairies could have taken it. The mother of the child was then sent for, to see if she had taken it. I saw the child again at the inquest. I cannot, however, say positively that it was the same child for it was greatly disfigured. There were cuts on its face and across its throat.’ [Cross-examined] – ‘They all appeared fond of the child. The prisoner had a large pig – a breeding sow and a hungered one. She was kept in a house at the end of the kitchen but could have broken out of it. The prisoner appeared very fond of the child and al were on great trouble when it was lost. He was always a good neighbour and kind “both to beast and bodie”.’ Robert Maguire (police constable) – ‘The prisoner came to the barrack and told me the child had been stolen away when he and his sister went out. I went down to his house to make inquiry about the child and suspecting that the mother might have taken it away, went and brought her, as well as the prisoner, to the magistrate. I was present when the prisoner dug up the child. It was in a basket and covered with some old clothes. He said he had buried it there himself.’