Now something about the death of a John Rumbelow at his mother's hands.
Cambridge Independent Press - Saturday 30 October 1847
Littleport—More Poisoning.—On Monday last, an inquest was holden at Littleport, before W. Marshall, Esq., on the body of an infant named John Rumbelow, 17 months old, who had died from an overdose of laudanum, given him by his mother. The woman, who appeared to be in a destitute condition, and came into gaol in a very filthy state, says she had no idea she had given the child too much ; but she was committed for trial at the next Cambridgeshire assizes, on the charge of killing and slaying her son, John Rumbelow, by administering to him certain poison called laudanum."
Cambridge Chronicle and Journal - Saturday 25 March 1848
CAMBRIDGESHIRE ASSIZES
MANSLAUGHTER. Mary Rumbelow, aged 22, wife of William Rumbelow, of Littleport, was indicted for the manslaughter of her child, John Rumbelow, by administering sixty drops of laudanum. Mr. Worlledge prosecuted; the prisoner was undefended. Sophia Fyson, a very old woman, with whom prisoner lodged in October, said the child was very cross and never well, and prisoner used to give it stuff to make it sleep. Prisoner said she was going for Godfrey's cordial, but she brought laudanum back, and gave the child teaspoonful. Next day the child died. By the Judge She meant to do it no harm: she was very loving over her child. Robert Cheesewright, grocer, &c., of Littleport, sold prisoner a penny-worth of laudanum, about 160 drops, a large teaspoonful. Bought the laudanum in London, and believed it to be of the usual strength.—By the Judge: She had had laudanum before, and had also sent for Godfrey's cordial; an ounce of Godfrey's cordial or four teaspoonsful, was a dose for a grown-up person. Wright Laxton, surgeon, of Littleport, examined the body of the child. Found the lungs highly inflamed : there was extravasated blood, and also tubercles : in other respects the child appeared healthy, as far as be examined: examined only the chest and bowels ; did not examine the head. His Lordship directed an acquittal, and expressed his regret that the woman had been kept in prison since last October, upon charge of having feloniously caused the death of her child, when there really was no sort of foundation for the charge.
Tom