Doctor's Uncertainty Spares Mother

A mother whose baby daughter was found buried in a coal vault was charged with murder but not convicted after the doctor who carried out the post mortem could not be sure how long she had lived.

In 1853 Bridget Cahill took a job as a domestic servant with Mr and Mrs Horne in Warren Street (now the entrance to the outdoor car park on Russell Street). Towards the end of August suspicions were aroused by the Hornes that she was pregnant, a claim she denied. On 29th August Cahill remained in her room saying she had a bowel complaint then took up her duties again the following day.

On 31st August Cahill was challenged again by Mrs Horne and admitted that she had given birth two days earlier and buried the baby in the coal vault. A police officer was called and the baby was found wrapped in a petticoat, with blood and a hammer nearby . Cahill was taken into custody by police and then removed to the workhouse hospital, where she remained under guard. She stated that the father of the child was the master of a merchant vessel.

A post mortem established that the baby girl had taken breaths outside of the womb, while there was also a bruise on the cheek and a fractured skull. On 3rd September an inquest was held and the surgeon Dr Hannah said he was of the opinion that the fractured bones were a result of violence and of the size  that could have been administered by a hammer. A verdict of wilful murder was returned against Cahill, who was still in hospital.

Cahill was tried at the Assizes on 8th December, when Mrs Horne described the finding of the baby. Dr Hannah gave evidence as to the injuries and although he said the hydrostatic test was infallible in proving the child had inhaled air, it was possible that it was only a few breaths before dying. As a result of this and the judges summing up, the jury found Cahill guilty of concealment of birth and she was sentenced to two years imprisonment.