Village History
“ At the Aylesbury Assizes
on Thursday, heforo Lord Chief Justice Cockburu, Catherine Muir, 39, nurse, was indicted for the wilful murder Bruce Dunlop Logan, aged five years, at Steeple Claydou, the lllh May last. Mr. O’Malley, Q.C.. stated the case for the prosecution. The prisoner had been nurse for some years in the family of Mr. Logan, and his leaving England with his wife, in September last, for India, he placed in her charge his four children, for whoso boarding had made arrangements with the Misses Macdonald. Some difference arose between the prisoner and the members of Miss Macdonald’s family, the result being that she received notice to leave, and the morning in question the little boy was found in bed with bis throat cut. and the nurse crouched up in corner, in her night dress, in stupid, half-drunken state, with a table knife covered with blood underneath her. Some of the witnesses for the prosecution spoke of the conduct of the prisoner immediately before and after the murder strongly indicative of insanity; she became delirious, and subsequently exhibited great prostration of mind and body. For the defence evidence was given that the prisoner had long showed spmptoms of insanity. All the witnesses spoke the prisoner’s great affection for Mr. Logan’s children, and the grandmother of the deceased child said that the prosecution was not instituted by Mr. Logan. Mr. O’Malley could not resist the evidence to the insanity of the prisoner, arid, under hist lordship’s direction, the prisoner was acquitted that plea, and ordered to be confined during her Majesty’s pleasure.
Grantham Journal – Saturday 22 July 1871
