South London Press 1897
Mother's Shocking Neglect.
VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER.
On Monday, Mr. A. Braxton Hicks, coroner
for North Lambeth, held a lengthened inquest
at the Coroner's Court, High-street, Lambeth,
into the circumstances attending the death of
Ethel Rose Mayersbeth,
aged one year and 11
months, lately residing with her mother at No.
6, High-street, Lambeth. Mr. D. Patton,
inspector of the National Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Children, was present,
and Detective-sergeant George Edwards appeared
to watch the case on behalf of the
authorities at Scotland Yard. The case created
great excitement in Lambeth, as the child was
found dead in a nude state in its mother's
arms.
THE MOTHER'S EVIDENCE.
Mrs. Rose Mayersbeth, the mother of the
child, was called, and said she had been living
apart from her husband. He was a commission
clerk, and allowed her 27s. a week and
paid her rent. She had five children living.
About a month ago two of her children were
attacked with measles. She took them to St.
Thomas's Hospital. They were seen in the
out-patients' room. The Coroner: What?
Amongst the out-patients? How many were
there in the room? Witness: The room was
full. The Coroner: You ought to have
known better. When did a rash come
out on Ethel? Witness: Very soon afterwards.
The baby was then attacked with
measles. The Coroner: Owing to your
intemperate and dirty habits your landlady
gave you notice to quit? Witness answered in
the affirmative. On Tuesday she took out two
of her boys. They were both shoeless. She
had her child Ethel
in her arms. The latter
was in a nude state with the exception of a
chemise. She was wrapped up in two shawls.
Witness was positive that she was not dead
then. Elizabeth Reed, of No. 6, High-street,
Lambeth, was sworn, and deposed that the
last witness had resided with her for the last
three years.
Mayersbeth's husband
left her
owing to her
DIRTY AND DRUNKEN HABITS.
On entering the room witness found it in a
horrible state. The coroner's officer informed
the coroner that
Mayersbeth's husband
was a
very respectable and a teetotaller. He
was willing to pay for his children, but he
could not live with his wife. Mr. Archibald
Blair said he was a surgeon in practive in Lambeth.
On the 16th inst. he was called to No.
146, Lambeth Walk, where he saw the child
Ethel.
She was quite dead. The police were
sent for, and the body removed to the
Lambeth parish mortuary. He had since
made a post-mortem examination, and found
that death was due to weak circulation of the
hear and acute pneumonia. The jury then
retired and on their return into court found a
verdict of manslaughter against Rose Mayersbeth.
She was fully committed for trial on the
coroner's warrant. She has been remanded
for a week by the Lambeth magistrate.
Source: South London Press
27 November 1897; Page 6