Age: 2
Sex: female
Date: 26 Nov 1924
Place: Luton
Doris Butler was found dead at a caravan.
Her death was due to violence but there was no evidence to show who caused it.
The doctor that carried out the post mortem said that external bruises and internal injuries indicated that the death of the child was due to severe violence and that the injuries, in his opinion, could not have been caused accidentally.
An open verdict was returned.
Her 23-year-old mother had lived with a waste paper collector in a caravan.
When Doris Butler's mother was charged, she said:
When her partner was charged, he said:
It was however arranged that Doris Butler's mother be allowed to attend her funeral on Wednesday 26 November 1924.
They were sent for trial at the Bedford Assizes on Wednesday 21 January 1925, but were acquitted after the judge stated that there was no evidence that was proper to submit to a jury on a charge of murder.
see www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
see Birmingham Daily Gazette - Tuesday 02 December 1924
see The Scotsman - Wednesday 21 January 1925
see Daily Herald - Wednesday 26 November 1924
see Unsolved 1924