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Authors: Nicola; Sly
Tags: Dorset Murders
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consider whether, if Emma had indeed murdered her baby, would she not have disposed of the body after doing so, rather than leaving it in the drawer as evidence of her guilt, which would inevitably lead to her detection?
Stressing that the charge against Emma Pitt was a capital charge, Collins implored the jury to think carefully before reaching their decision and to give her the benefit of any doubt that existed in their minds. They should remember that the life of a young girl was in their hands. Throughout Collinsâs address Emma Pitt sobbed piteously, her gaze fixed steadfastly on the jurors, as it had been throughout the trial.
After the defence counselâs speech, Mr Justice Lush then summed up the case for the jury. The crux of the matter, he told them, was whether or not the child had ever been an inhabitant of this world. If it had had a separate existence and its life had been extinguished as a result of an act by its mother, then the jury should find the accused guilty of wilful murder. Otherwise there was not the slightest doubt that Emma Pitt was guilty of the lesser offence of concealment of birth
The jury retired for only ten minutes before returning with a verdict of âNot Guiltyâ of murder, but âGuiltyâ of concealing the birth of a baby. Mr Justice Lush then addressed Emma, telling her that in his opinion this was one of the worst cases of concealment that had come before him. Her conduct during the day on which she was in labour, coupled with her constant denials of her situation to Mrs Parsons, proved conclusively what was her intention, at least with regard to concealment of the birth. For that reason he proposed to give her the maximum sentence allowed him by the law. Emma Pitt, whose face had visibly brightened at the juryâs verdict of âNot Guiltyâ, once again burst into noisy sobs as she was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour. She was escorted from the dock to be taken to prison, moaning and crying hysterically.
8
âI TRIED TO SETTLE ONE LAST LEAVE AND I HAVE SUCCEEDED THIS TIMEâ
Portland, 1891
T he naval training ship HMS Boscawen first arrived in Portland in 1862, replacing HMS Britannia, which then moved from Portland to Dartmouth to become the forerunner of the Royal Naval College. The original Boscawen was replaced in 1873 by HMS Trafalgar, which subsequently adopted the name Boscawen and remained in Portland until 1906, when she was sold.
Life on a naval training ship in the nineteenth century was not easy for the boys on board, being taught the many and varied tasks they would have to do as men at sea. They learned the rudiments of reading and writing, along with how to set rigging, use rifles, clean and maintain the ship, scrub and wash hammocks and make and mend clothes. They also took part in a punishing schedule of physical exercises and gymnastics. Fire being a great danger on a wooden ship at sea, the boys formed a fire brigade which, in emergencies, could be called on to assist with fires on land. On Sundays, every boy was expected to attend divine service. Discipline on the ship was harsh and in 1866 it is recorded that two boys each received twenty-four lashes from the birch.
By 1891 there were 549 boys on board the Boscawen, most aged between twelve and seventeen years old, with each boy receiving weekly pocket money of around 3 d . As the boys were often prevented from leaving the ship for long periods, due to bad weather or an infectious illness, for which the entire ship was quarantined, life on Boscawen could be confining and claustrophobic.
The Boscawen training ship, 1905 .
On Sunday 15 November 1891, after attending the religious services, three of the Boscawen boys, William Groom, John Wise and Lawrence Salter, obtained permission to go ashore. Together they walked along the top of the cliffs at Portland towards Bow and Arrow Castle, enjoying a rare chance to stretch their legs, chatting and picking
Stressing that the charge against Emma Pitt was a capital charge, Collins implored the jury to think carefully before reaching their decision and to give her the benefit of any doubt that existed in their minds. They should remember that the life of a young girl was in their hands. Throughout Collinsâs address Emma Pitt sobbed piteously, her gaze fixed steadfastly on the jurors, as it had been throughout the trial.
After the defence counselâs speech, Mr Justice Lush then summed up the case for the jury. The crux of the matter, he told them, was whether or not the child had ever been an inhabitant of this world. If it had had a separate existence and its life had been extinguished as a result of an act by its mother, then the jury should find the accused guilty of wilful murder. Otherwise there was not the slightest doubt that Emma Pitt was guilty of the lesser offence of concealment of birth
The jury retired for only ten minutes before returning with a verdict of âNot Guiltyâ of murder, but âGuiltyâ of concealing the birth of a baby. Mr Justice Lush then addressed Emma, telling her that in his opinion this was one of the worst cases of concealment that had come before him. Her conduct during the day on which she was in labour, coupled with her constant denials of her situation to Mrs Parsons, proved conclusively what was her intention, at least with regard to concealment of the birth. For that reason he proposed to give her the maximum sentence allowed him by the law. Emma Pitt, whose face had visibly brightened at the juryâs verdict of âNot Guiltyâ, once again burst into noisy sobs as she was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour. She was escorted from the dock to be taken to prison, moaning and crying hysterically.
8
âI TRIED TO SETTLE ONE LAST LEAVE AND I HAVE SUCCEEDED THIS TIMEâ
Portland, 1891
T he naval training ship HMS Boscawen first arrived in Portland in 1862, replacing HMS Britannia, which then moved from Portland to Dartmouth to become the forerunner of the Royal Naval College. The original Boscawen was replaced in 1873 by HMS Trafalgar, which subsequently adopted the name Boscawen and remained in Portland until 1906, when she was sold.
Life on a naval training ship in the nineteenth century was not easy for the boys on board, being taught the many and varied tasks they would have to do as men at sea. They learned the rudiments of reading and writing, along with how to set rigging, use rifles, clean and maintain the ship, scrub and wash hammocks and make and mend clothes. They also took part in a punishing schedule of physical exercises and gymnastics. Fire being a great danger on a wooden ship at sea, the boys formed a fire brigade which, in emergencies, could be called on to assist with fires on land. On Sundays, every boy was expected to attend divine service. Discipline on the ship was harsh and in 1866 it is recorded that two boys each received twenty-four lashes from the birch.
By 1891 there were 549 boys on board the Boscawen, most aged between twelve and seventeen years old, with each boy receiving weekly pocket money of around 3 d . As the boys were often prevented from leaving the ship for long periods, due to bad weather or an infectious illness, for which the entire ship was quarantined, life on Boscawen could be confining and claustrophobic.
The Boscawen training ship, 1905 .
On Sunday 15 November 1891, after attending the religious services, three of the Boscawen boys, William Groom, John Wise and Lawrence Salter, obtained permission to go ashore. Together they walked along the top of the cliffs at Portland towards Bow and Arrow Castle, enjoying a rare chance to stretch their legs, chatting and picking
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