Richmond child murder
The case was widely reported at a time when women on trial for killing their babies were increasingly charged with manslaughter instead of murder and eventually led to a change in the law for infanticide.
[4] Her first child, Amy Sarah Ann, was born on 13 May that year and this was followed by the birth of a son, James William Walter, on 27 January 1892.
[8] The events leading up to her being charged are outlined in the witness statements from the inquest and trial and reported widely in the press.
Frances Jones, a nurse at the Richmond Workhouse, described how the baby was born in the lying-in ward on 31 December.
The mother identified herself as Amy Smart, of 3 Sheen Dale Mortlake Road, Domestic Servant, and she left the ward on 7 January.
The body of the child was discovered by William Walker, a coach smith from Hounslow, on the early morning of 21 February, who reported it to Constable John Adams on duty at Asgill Lane.
The body was found naked, lying face downwards on the ice in the Ha-ha, about halfway between the Railway Bridge and the Richmond Lock footbridge and about two yards from the towpath.
The body was taken to the police station where it was examined by Dr Matthew Gardiner who determined that death was caused by strangulation.
The body was identified by James French, a plumber at 25 Raleigh Road, as the child of Amy Gregory, who had been lodging with him since 5 February.
Amy told Mrs Burrage that she had been working at the Steam Laundry, and that she "had not a friend or a home to go to and that if I did not take her in, she had no alternative but to walk the streets all night."
Charlotte Williams of 2 St George's Place, Mortlake Road, met Amy on 29 January at Mrs Burrage's house and agreed to take the baby for nursing for 5 shillings a week, feeding it condensed milk.
The child had probably died in the mother's arms in the cold, and was disposed of by her after death, where it was found, or, her counsel urged, if she was guilty of murder she had committed the act when her suffering from want deprived her of the full power and responsibility of controlling her actions.
After half an hour's consultation the jury returned a verdict of guilty, and strongly recommended the prisoner to mercy because of the distressed state of her mind at the time of the deed.
In an incoherent speech, broken with sobs, and with blood streaming down her nostrils, the wretched prisoner related that she left the workhouse with her baby, and went to her father's.
A petition is being numerously signed for presentation to the Home Secretary praying for a reprieve on the ground that absolute destitution and despair had completely deranged her intellect before she committed the act.
The Western Daily Press editorial commented "By the law of the country every citizen is entitled to receive the necessaries of life.
Was the relief easily accessible, or were the conditions attached to the acceptance of public charity such that Amy Gregory preferred to face the dreaded alternative?
"[18] A letter in the Thames Valley Times did not agree with her account "that in Richmond a friendless, starving, hopeless woman had no hand held out to her and was left to wander and die.
Its editorial noted "one reason why in all ages infanticide has been so lightly regarded is that it is a crime of which no man can in his own person by possibility be a victim.
"[21] The jury requested that a letter be written by Mr. Justice Collins to the Home Secretary, Mr Asquith, asking for mercy for Amy[22] and a petition for a reprieve of the death-sentence was raised.
[23] Miss Jenner's Appeal for Clemency A Satisfactory Response She has received the following letter from the Home Office:-1 April 1896.
To Miss Gertrude Jenner, 7, Gower-street, W.C. Madam,—The Secretary of State having considered the case of Amy Gregory, sentenced to death for murder, I am directed to acquaint you that he has felt warranted under all the circumstances of the case to advise her Majesty to respite the capital sentence, with a view to its commutation.—-I am, Madam, your obedient servant, (Signed) V. E.
In 1922, the Infanticide Act abolished the death penalty for women who murdered their newborn babies if it could be shown that the woman in question had had her balance of mind disturbed as a direct result of giving birth.
