Hideous Murder of New-Born Baby 150 Years Ago This Week Near Thirsk
A shocking case from 150 years ago reveals the grim fate of a newborn near Thirsk
Thirsk, UK, Murder, Ann Elizabeth Nendick, Thomas Checkley
Thirsk: It all started when Dr. Buchannan was called to a brickyard near Kirby Wiske. He found Ann Elizabeth Nendick in bed, looking out of it.
They said she was 17, but the doctor thought she looked more like 15. After checking her out, he realized she had just given birth, but there was no sign of a baby.
He quickly reported it to the police in Thirsk. Inspector Nicholson went to the brickyard and spoke with Ann’s stepdad, Thomas Checkley, who was 44 and a widower.
Checkley seemed shaken and said, “It’s a bad job. I wish I had called the doctor in first.” He mentioned waking up to Ann crying and finding her downstairs with a child.
What came next was pretty shocking, and it made headlines everywhere. Checkley told the inspector that at Ann’s request, he boiled the baby and then tossed it over the wall.
When the inspector looked, he found the baby’s body in a cotton rag in the ashpit. It was a girl and missing a left arm. Dr. Buchannan testified that the baby had breathed and showed signs of having been strangled before being boiled.
Checkley was arrested and charged with murder. During the inquest, the full horror came out. Not only had the baby been strangled and boiled, but it turned out to be Checkley’s child. His 11-year-old son said he had been sleeping with Ann since his wife passed away two years earlier.
The inquest allowed the baby to be buried in Thirsk parish church. Both Checkley and Ann were sent to York Assizes to face trial for murder.
Two months later, Checkley was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to life with hard labor. Ann was found guilty of concealing a birth and got 18 months in prison.