Age: 0
Sex: male
Date: 11 Oct 1900
Place: Amy Lane, Wigan
The body of a new born child was found in Amy Lane in Wigan.
The child had head injuries and signs of strangulation.
A police surgeon said that the body was that of a fully-developed male child and that at the back of its head there was a wound two and a half inches long, and also a small fracture to one of the skull bones. He added that there was also evidence of strangulation.
He said that in his opinion the cause of death might have been due to either the injuries to the head or strangulation, but added that there was no doubt as to the cause of death being attributable to violence.
He said that the head injuries might have been caused by a blunt instrument and that a considerable amount of violence would have been used.
When the Coroner summed up he said that a prima facie case of murder had been made out and that it rested on the police to find those responsible for the child's death, noting that he hoped they would be successful.
A verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown was then returned.
see www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
see Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser - Thursday 11 October 1900
see Manchester Courier - Saturday 13 October 1900