Catherine Anderson - Tried Twice for Child Murder - Part 2

At the end of part one of this blog, Catherine Anderson had been found guilty of the culpable homicide of her infant daughter on the 26th June 1883. A brief notice in the Aberdeen Evening Express recorded that she was transferred to HM General Prison, Perth, on the morning of 4th July 1883 to begin a five year stretch.

Catherine served just over three years of this sentence. A report of her second trial in 1890 mentions that she had been released from prison in October 1886. Following correspondence with a descendant of Catherine who contacted me after the publication of the previous blog post, I now know that Catherine had another daughter, Helen, on 1st September 1888. Helen's birth certificate records that she was illegitimate, with Catherine's occupation given as a "bleachfield worker". The place of birth was noted as Catherine's parent's address of 16 Rosebank Place, Aberdeen, which they had moved to from their previous address on the Hardgate at some point in the mid 1880s. From my correspondence with Catherine's descendant, I understand that Helen was cared for and grew up with a relative of the family.

Catherine's parents were still living at 16 Rosebank Place at the time of the 1891 census. As for Catherine,  she was recorded as an inmate at HM General Prison, Perth, when the census was conducted on the 5th April 1891. Her occupation was given as that of a "millworker jute spinner". How did she end up back inside? The Aberdeen Journal of the 22nd January 1890 reported the case:

“The first case called was that of alleged murder or concealment of pregnancy in which an Aberdeen millworker was concerned. The charge was that “Catherine Anderson, prisoner in the prison of Aberdeen, having between the 26th and 31st October 1889, in the house in Stevenson Street, Aberdeen, then occupied by you, been delivered of a female child, you did then and there either press the mouth and throat of your said child and did murder her; or, otherwise, time and place above libelled, you were delivered of a child now dead or amissing, and you did conceal your pregnancy and did not call for or use assistance at the birth, contrary to the Act 49 George III., cap.14 and you have been previously convicted of a crime inferring personal violence” 

Lord McLaren – Catherine Anderson, you are accused of murder, or alternatively with concealment of pregnancy. Are you guilty or not guilty? 

Prisoner – Guilty of culpable homicide 

Mr J.C. Wilson, counsel for the prisoner, said he should like to say a few words on behalf of the prisoner at the bar. As his Lordship was aware, she had had a somewhat bad career, and was released from her last period of confinement in October 1886. She was then cast off by her parents, and in consequence found it exceedingly difficult to get any work or get any situation and was very often reduced to the sorest straits. Some months before the birth of this child she was engaged as an outworker at Pitfodels, but owing to her condition had to leave her work. Her neighbours at the time of the birth of the child all bore testimony that she was in a state almost of starvation, and then detectives who searched the house said that they found no food in the house at all, that the bed clothing and the clothing of the accused was of the most meagre and scantiest description. It also appeared that the father of the child, when he came to be informed of the of the condition of the prisoner, deserted her. Indeed in the most wretched circumstances – without food, without clothing, and without the means of procuring them, and altogether alone and in her misery, her child was born, and this child unfortunately met its death. He urged his Lordship to take these circumstances into consideration in passing sentence… 

…Lord McLaren then passed sentence. Catherine Anderson, he said, it is unfortunately true that you have been previously convicted and sentenced on a charge precisely similar to the one which is now brought against you and to which you have pleaded…I am afraid, considering your previous history that there is very little use in attempting to offer you advice or to express hopes of amendment. I can consider the circumstances of your case with all that has been so forcibly and feelingly stated by your counsel, and giving all weight to these considerations, the least sentence that I can pass upon you is that which you have already experienced. The sentence of the Court is that you suffer penal servitude for five years” .

The description of Catherine's living conditions at the address on Stevenson Street, located in the Denburn area of Aberdeen, make it clear that she was below the bread-line and conveys just how precarious life could be at the time for a single woman without a support network.

The apparent rift with her parents mentioned in the newspaper report must have been at least partially bridged by the time that Catherine was released from prison in 1893 after serving roughly three-and-a-half year of her sentence. The Register of Returned Convicts for Aberdeen (see image below) records the address at which she was living immediately after her discharge as 16 Rosebank Place, her parent's house.

Identification of Catherine on the 1901 census has not been possible with any degree of certainty. She does, however, appear on the 1911 census, aged 45, single and occupying a room at 88 Maberley Street, Aberdeen, with her occupation listed as a "charwoman".