Mary is mentioned in three court cases in Newport. In the first, she is a witness, whereas she is in the dock in the others.
The Infanticide at Newport 28th August 1889
In the first, in 1889, she was called as a witness after a policeman investigating a concealed infant death called her in from the street to witness the search and to accompany the mother to the police station, all of which must have been a harrowing experience. She was subsequently called to give evidence in the trial. As the newspaper items variously read:
“The Inspector, noting that no other woman was in the house looked out into the street, where he saw a woman called Mary Connor, he asked her to be present.” and
“Mary Connell, wife of William Connell, haulier of 3 Mellon Square said that she had gone upstairs with DI Jones and the prisoner had brought out a parcel containing the dead child from the box.”
The events are summarised on the Newport Past website
FOR COAL STEALING Two Newport Women Have To Pay Half-a-Crown Each.
“At Newport Police-court this morning- Margaret Connors, aged 30, of No. 3, Mellon- square Rose McCarthy, 17, of No. 5, Mellon- square and Mary Haggerty, 17, were charged with stealing coal belonging to the Ebbw Vale Company. The women were seen by a. couple of police-constables on Thursday on the Victoria Wharf, and coal was found in their possession The General Manager of the wharf stated that a great quantity of coal was taken, and Mr. G. F. Colborne, solicitor, who prosecuted, whilst not wishing to press the case unduly, hoped the bench would make an example of the women. Prisoners were fined 2s.6d. each, with the alternative of two days in the cells.”
Evening Express 28th March 1894
Although the defendant is referred to as Margaret, it seems likely that this is Mary, since the address and age match and there is no reference to a Margaret Connors living at the address. If this is Mary, the theft occurred at a time when she had lost two children under five within two months – one from pneumonia and the other from bronchitis.
MARY’S HALF-A-PINT
“At Newport to-day Mary Connors, of 16, Emlyn terrace, was ordered to pay 5S. costs for sending her daughter, Kate Connors, under the age of fourteen, to the Globe Inn, Canal-parade, for half a pint of beer, other-wise than in a corked and sealed vessel, and Ellen Galloper, of 51, Canal-parade, was ordered to pay a like amount for aiding and abetting.”
EVENING EXPRESS 7th November 1906
sullivansetc.com 