Preece Family Tree

INQUEST EXTRAORDINARY. - On Wednesday last, the quiet little village of Forton, near Aqualate, in this county, was thrown into the greatest consternation from a report of a child murder having taken place there three months ago, the body having been found by a girl named Eleanor Plant, while digging in a garden formerly occupied by a young woman named Micklewright, the supposed mother, who died about three months since. Information was given to Moore, one of the London detective police force, he being considered more shrewd than his companions, who immediately repaired to the spot, when he discovered, as he supposed, an infant child in a highly decomposed state, which he conveyed to the New Inn, Sutton, where a coffin was immediately prepared for its reception. As is usual in these quite villages, the rector was consulted upon the matter, but he very properly refused the request until he received a certificate from the coroner. As it was very evident there must be an inquest before the body could be interred, by the advice of the worthy rector, and also with the concurrence of the churchwardens, the parish constable was dispatched with all speed to give information to the coroner of the district, W. Webb Ward, Esq. of Stafford, who immediately ordered a jury to be summoned of the most respectable and intelligent men in the neighbourhood (Mr. Derrington, of Warton, foreman), for the following Friday, at half-past three, at the New Inn, Sutton, "touching the death of an infant child found in the parish of Forton." From the different exaggerated reports that were circulated in the neighbourhood, great interest was excited, particularly amongst the fair sex; all seemed to take considerable interest in the matter, and looked forward with the greatest anxiety to the decision of the jury. The jury having been assembled at the time specified, and the usual preliminaries having been gone through, were ordered by the coroner to view the body; the coffin having been brought into the house, it was thought proper to see the body in another apartment, as Moore had said the child was in a highly decomposed state, and that it would be exceedingly offensive, if not injurious, were it brought into the room in which the jury had assembled, particularly as they would have to remain in the room some time after viewing it. The handkerchief with its contents, being removed from the coffin and exposed to view, the singularity of the appearance gave rise to a variety of speculative opinions - the first was that it was a strange looking child; the second it has no legs the third, it is no child at all. One, however, who had been silent, a butcher, having some knowledge of the anatomy of the beast, discovered, to the astonishment of all, and much to the discomfiture of the London policeman, that the supposed child was neither more nor less than a piece of beef, as the splade bone could easily be identified! The bone was subsequently washed and scraped, and to the satisfaction of all, the opinion of the butcher was proved to be correct, and so the post mortem terminated, each thoroughly convinced that the jury had been called together to hold an inquest upon a piece of stinking beef! The jury therefore wished each other good morning and separated! - Correspondent.