OVER THE EMBANKMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11346, 14 April 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

OVER THE EMBANKMENT.

FATHER'S STRANGE CONFESSION". OP

MURDER. At Bow-street Police Court a few days ago, Charles Henry Miles, 19, » printer's labourer, was charged on remand, before Mr. De Rutzen, with the wilful murder of lis male child, aged seven months. Accused went to Bow-street Police-station about midnight on February 18, and said he had just thrown his child into the river near Waterloo Bridge.

Police-constable Barnett said that after prisoner had made fhat confession he was placed in a room, where he made the following statement to witness: " I don't know why I did it. I have had a lot of trouble lately. I was fond of the baby. My head seems all burning. I walked with the baby down to the Thames Embankment. It started crying, and all in a moment something struck me to throw it in the Thames, which I did. I then walked up to Bowstreet Station, and saw you at the door." Emma Hartley, 18, living with her parents at 23, Denmark-street, the mother of the child, said she had known prisoner four years, and for some time lived in the same house with him at 13, Arthur-street. It was while they were living there that the child was bom. About, eleven p.m. mi Sunday, ( February 18, she was returning home when she was met by prisoner at her house. He said to her, "(Jive me that baby." He took the child away from her, and ran with it towards St. Giler-' Church. She followed, but missed him. Afterwards she went to look for 'him with her brother-in-law,''' but could not find him. She had not seen the baby since. Agnes Amelia Meredith, sister of last witness, said that her sister and prisoner used frequently to visit her house. On Sunday, February 11, they were there together* and her sister knocked the pipe out of prisoner's mouth. That made him angry, and he said to her, "Mind you don't go over the embankment, and the baby, too." On February 18, the day of the alleged murder, the last witness left her house at, a-quarter past ten p.m. She had her baby with her. It was wearing a blue pelisse and cape and a white woollen lint. Emma Matilda Grenham, a schoolgirl, living at 23, Denmark-street, and Eliza (Irenham, her sister, both staled that on Sunday evening, February 18, prisoner asked them several times where Emma Hartley was, The latter added that when she told him she did not know, he replied. " She has had her fling, and I'll have mine to-night," Police-Constable Adams, who was on duty on the Thames Embankment on February 18, saw prisoner run out of Yilliers-street along the Embankment towards Waterloo Pier. He was carrying a baby, and seemed exhausted.

Mr. De Rutzen remanded accused. The Thames police at Rothcrhithe have made a. discovery which is likely to have an important bearing on the charge of murder brought against, the accused man, Miles. A child, attired as the missing child was dressed when snatched from its mother's arms, was found floating in the Thames at Rotherhithe, and the authorities feel little doubt as to its identity.