Augusta Scott was a very happy woman. Married to Albert, Augusta lived in Uxbridge with her four children, the youngest of whom was Lottie Marian, who by June 1884, was one month short of her second birthday. There was one other occupant of the house: seventeen-year-old Caroline Perry, who had worked for the Scotts, as a domestic servant, for almost three weeks.
On the afternoon of Thursday 19 June, Augusta asked Caroline to put Lottie into her pram, meet the two eldest children as they left school, and post a letter for her along the way. Augusta did not have any stamps to hand, so she also gave Caroline two pence, and told her to call at the post office first, and buy a 2d stamp. It was around 4.00 pm when Caroline left the house, pushing Lottie in her perambulator.
At 5.30 pm, Augusta Scott’s two eldest children arrived home from school alone. They explained that they had indeed been met at school, by Caroline, but she had only walked part of the way home with them, before sending them on ahead and going back the way she had come. Augusta thought that the most likely explanation was that Caroline had forgotten about the letter and turned back to purchase the stamp. She would no doubt arrive home in due course.
It was not until one hour later, at 6.30 pm, that William Ginns, a neighbour, turned hurriedly into Augusta’s front garden, pushing the perambulator. Augusta looked inside, and found her child, dead, with a scarf tied tightly around its neck. Of Caroline Perry, there was no sign.
A doctor was called, as were the police, and a search organised for Caroline. In the event, the search was unnecessary, for, that same evening, Caroline walked into Uxbridge police station and gave herself up. Later still, she was formally charged with the murder of Lottie Scott.
Caroline Perry appeared at the Old Bailey, before Mr Justice Hawkins, on 28 July 1884. The case for the Crown was led by Mr Poland, assisted by Mr Montague Williams. Caroline’s defence lay in the hands of Mr Purcell.
Augusta Scott detailed the events of 19 June. After Mr Ginns had brought Lottie home, another neighbour, Mrs Burnham, had come to offer what assistance she could. It was Mrs Burnham who managed to untie the scarf from Lottie’s neck. Augusta recognised that scarf as one that belonged to Caroline Perry.
Various witnesses were then called, who were able to detail some of Caroline’s movements after she had left the Scott’s house. Mary Ann Sargood lived in Park Road, almost opposite to Grove Road and, on 19 June, she had been taking advantage of the warm weather and was sitting in her garden, by the gate. She saw Caroline, pushing the pram, at around 5.30 pm. At the time, Caroline was a few yards from Chippendale Alley, heading towards the Scott house. The two eldest Scott children were some yards in front, holding hands and singing. They walked on towards home as Caroline turned on her heel and began pushing the pram back towards the Eight Bells public house.
Alfred Bailey was a nine-year-old schoolboy and, on 19 June, he was standing by Chippendale Alley when he saw Caroline at the entrance. She had a pram with her and the baby was crying. Though he could not hear what was said, Alfred saw Caroline speak to the child in a kindly manner. The baby stopped crying and Caroline then walked on towards the Eight Bells. At the time, she was reading a book and walking rather slowly.
At about the same time, Hannah White was walking from the direction of the Eight Bells, towards Augusta Scott’s house. As she passed down Park Road she saw Caroline, who was now standing at the back of the pram. She had a book in her hand but wasn’t reading it. Instead, she seemed to be flicking through the pages as if she were searching for a particular part. As Hannah passed the pram, she glanced in and saw that the baby was lying down, with a cotton hat pulled down over its face.
Jane Edith Leman was just thirteen and lived in Pleasant Place, Uxbridge. On 19 June, she was walking up Chippendale Alley. As she turned into Park Road, Jane saw Caroline leaning against a wall. Jane then saw Mary Ann Sargood in her garden and spoke to her briefly. As she did, the two Scott children passed them on their way home.
Later that same afternoon, Jane walked back towards the Eight Bells and saw the pram against a hedge. Caroline was nowhere to be seen so, concerned for the baby, Jane went to the pram to see if all was well. The hood of the pram was now up but, looking inside, Jane saw that the baby was lying on its back with its eyes closed. There was a good deal of foam around the child’s mouth and Jane believed that it might have had some form of fit. Running for help, Jane found Mr Ginns, who came to her aid.
William Ginns was on his way home from work, when Jane Leman ran up to him and said she was afraid that a baby was ill. William took a look inside the pram and knew immediately that the child was beyond all aid. He then pushed the pram to Augusta Scott’s house, a journey that took some eight to ten minutes.
Johanna Lewis Burnham lived three doors down from the Scotts and was in her front garden when William Ginns arrived at Mrs Scott’s house. Seeing that she was distressed, Johanna went to see if she could offer any help. Johanna saw Augusta take her daughter from the pram, and noticed that there was a scarf tied tightly around the child’s neck. It was Johanna who, with some considerable difficulty, managed to untie the scarf, revealing a deep black mark beneath.
The final witness giving details of Caroline Perry’s movements, was Lydia Davis, aged twelve. Her family lived close to Caroline’s, so Lydia knew the family well. At some time between 5.00 pm and 6.00 pm, on 19 June, Lydia had been in George Street, Uxbridge when she had seen Caroline running towards her. As Caroline passed, she called out to Lydia, ‘Don’t say that you have seen me.’ She then headed on, towards High Street.
Doctor John Davidson was the medical gentleman called to Augusta Scott’s house. He timed his arrival at 6.30 pm and confirmed that Lottie was dead. Two days later, on 21 June, Dr Davidson performed the post-mortem, which confirmed that the cause of death had been suffocation due to strangulation.
Sergeant Joseph Whitehurst was the officer on duty in Uxbridge police station when Caroline Perry walked in to give herself up. After identifying herself and explaining why she was there, Caroline had handed over to Whitehurst two books: Uncle Tom’s Cabin and The Sunday School Hymn Book. She also gave him the unposted letter given to her by Augusta Scott, and the 2d for the stamp.
Inspector Christopher Blomfield was the final witness. He had been at Uxbridge police station at 11.30 pm, by which time Caroline had been charged and placed in the cells. At one stage he heard a loud, hysterical cry, come from Caroline’s cell. Going to check on her, he found her lying on her left side, wringing her hands and crying. Asked what the matter was, Caroline said she had been dreaming of little May.
The last piece of evidence was the brief statement Caroline had made when committed for trial by the magistrates. She had merely said, ‘I am not guilty of wilful murder and I reserve my defence.’
No real reason could be given for the death of little Lottie Scott. The jury retired to consider their verdict and when they returned, they announced that they had found Caroline not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter. No evidence had been given to indicate that Caroline was insane, but obviously the jury had thought that this wanton, motiveless crime couldn’t have been committed by someone in their right mind.
Spared the death penalty, Caroline Perry was then sentenced to fifteen months’ imprisonment, with hard labour.