1872: At an inquest today, a Peterborough coroner was investigating the case of 'an unknown male infant whose body had been found in the cesspool of a privy at Marholm'. From the post-mortem, he deduced that the child had been dead some six weeks but that it was not possible to presume whether the child had been born dead or alive. At the following quarter session, Harriet Green, a servant girl in the employ of Mrs Mann of Helpston, was brought before the session accused of 'concealment of a baby at birth'. Harriet had complained of back trouble and retired to her room the previous September. Mrs Mann sent for a doctor but Harriet refused to let him into her room and left early one morning without giving any notice. When the baby was found Harriet denied that it was hers but, when the soiled apron was found in her room, she confessed and was promptly arrested. She stated that the baby was a fine child and did not cry. She admitted putting the child into a slop bucket and depositing it in the privy at the bottom of the garden. She was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. (Peterborough Advertiser)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.