Baby in Water Closet - Colonist Tavern, Norwood.
A newly born male baby, weighing 7 pounds was found in the
water closet (toilet) of the Colonist Inn on the Parade Norwood, in 1880.
During the newborns autopsy, held by Dr Verco, it was revealed that child had
been born recently, but was mostly likely still born as the child had never
tried to breath. However, if the mother had have been with a mid-wife, there was
evidence the child would of lived.
An inquest into the death was held at Destitute Asylum on
Kermode Street in Adelaide, by the City Coroner where details of how the baby
came to be in the toilet were revealed.
Mary Hand, an inn servant revealed that a young lady named Ellen
MacNamara visited the Old Colonist Inn on May 17th, 1880. Helen claimed to be
very tired and went to bed without dinner.
The next day, Ellen helped Mary with some of her work, but collapsed. Mary helped her as best she could, and after dinner that night, did not see Ellen again until the following day at 9 am.
That morning Ellen told Mary she had soiled the bed-sheets and would wash them out and hang them herself. Ellen washed the sheets but left them soaking in the water. Before leaving, Ellen told Mary that she was planning to travel out to the country.
That evening, Mary went into Ellen's room to tidy up and found that there were bloodied clothes, and blood on the mattress. She reported the soiled mattress to her bosses Mr and Mrs Bern.
Mr Bern notified the local police, that he believed a child may have been born in his hotel.
The next day, Ellen helped Mary with some of her work, but collapsed. Mary helped her as best she could, and after dinner that night, did not see Ellen again until the following day at 9 am.
That morning Ellen told Mary she had soiled the bed-sheets and would wash them out and hang them herself. Ellen washed the sheets but left them soaking in the water. Before leaving, Ellen told Mary that she was planning to travel out to the country.
That evening, Mary went into Ellen's room to tidy up and found that there were bloodied clothes, and blood on the mattress. She reported the soiled mattress to her bosses Mr and Mrs Bern.
Mr Bern notified the local police, that he believed a child may have been born in his hotel.
As more details emerged, it was revealed that Ellen
MacNamara claimed that she had become pregnant to Sidney George Gilbert, who
was a butcher living at Government Gums. Gilbert's mother, Ann was called as a
witness, and she revealed that Helen had visited her house, saying she was
pregnant to her son Sidney.
Mrs Gilbert took the young girl in as she felt the girl might need some care. In the mean time she wrote to her son asking about Ellen and the chances of her being pregnant to him.
Sidney outright denied getting Ellen pregnant, but Mrs Gilbert allowed the girl to stay with her for 11 weeks, and in that time collected some children’s clothing for the unborn child.
It was revealed to Mrs Gilbert during that 11 weeks, that Ellen did not like, nor want children.
The reason Ellen left the care of the Gilbert family was revealed. She had been sneaking out at night, and for that reason Mr Gilbert, who did not want the girl under his roof, insisted she leave.
Helen left the baby clothes at the Gilbert's, still wrapped, and made her way to the Old Colonist Inn.
Mrs Gilbert took the young girl in as she felt the girl might need some care. In the mean time she wrote to her son asking about Ellen and the chances of her being pregnant to him.
Sidney outright denied getting Ellen pregnant, but Mrs Gilbert allowed the girl to stay with her for 11 weeks, and in that time collected some children’s clothing for the unborn child.
It was revealed to Mrs Gilbert during that 11 weeks, that Ellen did not like, nor want children.
The reason Ellen left the care of the Gilbert family was revealed. She had been sneaking out at night, and for that reason Mr Gilbert, who did not want the girl under his roof, insisted she leave.
Helen left the baby clothes at the Gilbert's, still wrapped, and made her way to the Old Colonist Inn.
Alfred Pickford was
the next witness, a former employer of MacNamara.
MacNamara has seen Pickford wife and told her she had spent some time in the Destitute Asylum, that she had been promised marriage from a man in the country, and that the baby had died. She stated that that very morning she was released.
As it turns out, that very day, was the same day she had left the Old Colonist Inn.
Miss Ellen MacNamara, it was revealed, had given birth to
the child of Sidney Gilbert. Sidney had written letters to her saying he would
arrange to marry her, after she had the child, and traveled to where he lived.
She had concealed her pregnancy due to being unmarried and had given birth to the still-born child in the room she rented at the Old Colonist Inn.
The Jury asked for charges of “Concealment of Birth” to be pressed by the Police on Miss MacNamara.
She had concealed her pregnancy due to being unmarried and had given birth to the still-born child in the room she rented at the Old Colonist Inn.
The Jury asked for charges of “Concealment of Birth” to be pressed by the Police on Miss MacNamara.
Ellen MacNamara, 22 (sometimes known as Frawley) pleaded
guilty to charges of 'Concealment of a Baby'. She was sentenced to 3 months of
imprisonment.
Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2018
Bibliography
1880 'CORONERS' INQUESTS.', South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1868 - 1881), 12 June, p. 9. , viewed 04 Aug 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article94751416
1880 'TELEGRAMS.', Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA : 1861 - 1954), 9 June, p. 3. , viewed 04 Aug 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77588306
1880 'Law Courts.', South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1868 - 1881), 7 August, p. 10. , viewed 04 Aug 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article94752475
No comments:
Post a Comment