THE MAYFIELD MURDER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 46, 24 October 1913, Page 7

THE MAYFIELD MURDER.

A HERO OF EIGHT.

Leonard Lilley, the eight yeijr old son of tho'niui'dercd woman, told the following pathetic story of his mother's disappearance and how the desolate little family got on. When asked if he could answer a few questions, the little chap, who had not then been told that his mother was dead, replied cheerfully that he could.

He stated that.his mother had gone out on Wednesday night after tea. They had all been in bed when Biddie had come to the house and said that Mrs Montgomery-was ill, and that she wanted his mother to go to her assistance. His mother put on a dressing gown,and went aw<\v with Biddle. He had not sqe.n Biddle, who stood outside. • •

Ho and the other children then fell off sleep. They wmraj not* .used! to being left alone, that being the first occasion on which„tlieir mother had left them.to themselves. They did not fee] frightened, but his brothers and sisters wanted their-mother. He and hi; brother Htvvold, who iis four years of age, slept together in one room, and his sister Doris (three years) and the baby (not quite two years) slept in another, room.

Continuing, Leonard said that he had got out about 7 o'clock on Thursday morning—ho did not know what the exact time'was, ,-but ' ;tbe &un"war up. His mother had told him when, she was ging out that she would not bo long, hut she hadiiiotf returned jby breakfast time. He then, prepared the breakfast. Asked,'whatr. they had for breakfast; the little, boy stated that, 'they had "porridge, which he hadmade. He prmidlyi tnemarked ■ that too' often made the porridge. He also ■ made tea, hut they-.had to drink it black, because alkAho nrilto had gone sour and he could not milk the cow. On Thursday he looked about the fence to see. if he could find his mother; theirest of the children played about.Ki His little baby brother had not given any trouble. In answer to a question as to what he fed tli I baby on, he said that his little brother f <&>ifTd * eat "porridge and soft things." For dinner on Thursday In boiled some potatoes, as there did not happen/ to be any bread left i; the house. He-had not up till tha time greatly .'at his 'mother's absense, but"he~«htMght'she would have been.backi-.-v.r-.ii-J 1 ■ Ho swept up the house, and, using his own words;* "put" the kiddies to bed" on s g , hu,r9da.y l They did nof want any tea, as they had not long had theiv dtaQ&t; ho. which blacky [faring no milk and &?i b ,WJ>.. - j ..'. be.<?n. - &v & thought "she might be dead,,..sp«i!i where." He had' not worried I ;until' then, but on.,Friday evening, he began to . worry mo;;e at his mother's .ab . ,jitid j ) o I tj.ps} w >vAiiiqd to know where their mammy was. He made more porridge for them on Fri ~.,|Hef",hflgan to,HijiuJ\.th.a!t feigiJpptiiQr. could not be at He had stayed at home because hi; mother s stay there. J'ht^hji^-potatoes day, and late., in he mixed up s.o,m.e. flour an(l.ifl.a,(lo .some scones, whicljjjie frjpd.j.TlJp-had not gone odt-

side the fence. On Frjday he and the ithers- dinnei; ( oui,<dde in the open: ;_ the children; had all kept well, but' wanted their ; mother. _ •.■ On Friday night,, Leonard said, he went, over..,to.iM,v Montgomery's. It was not then dark, but the dusk was falling. He liaaV'seen Mr Montgomery, who had just returiMxL.from his work. Ho asked Mrs—Montgomery if his another was there, and she said "No." Mr Montgomery then came with him, and afterwards went for his father; it was dank when they oame back. He had gone to bed after Mr Montgomery had gone for his father. They all went to sleep, and he left the light burning. Baddy Woke him update 1 at night,'and wanted to know what his-mummy had said when she went away. His father did not tell ■him that his mother had "gone." On Saturday, iat- midday Mr Lilley, with his four! children, Heft his former homo and ''took Up his residence with neighbours at Mayrield,who- have generously undertaken-ifW ('ate of the

bereaved on&s-'uiitSl Mr- Lilley lias recovered fi'bm the-shock and settled upon ti defimfee>plah. i ' '■