Mother kept baby's body for 50 years

A woman who had an affair with her married dance instructor kept the remains of their love-child hidden away from a disapproving world for half a century, an inquest was told yesterday.

Gladys Mary Briggs, who gave birth out of wedlock in 1957, locked the baby's body in a suitcase and lived with it in her council flat for 50 years.

It was only discovered this year when council staff visited Mrs Briggs's home after ill-health forced her to leave. They found the remains wrapped in cloth, enclosed with a copy of a newspaper of the time.

Mrs Briggs refused to reveal the baby's identity to police and denied having given birth to him. She died three months after the discovery in January. The boy's father, Godfrey Moorhen, now 102 and living in sheltered accommodation, has also refused to discuss the matter.

Mr Moorhen's daughter told an inquest into the boy's death at Reading, Berks, that she had been "absolutely shattered" by the discovery that she had a half-brother.

Patricia Clements said: "My father had an affair with Mary Briggs from 1944 until she died. Really, they were dancing partners.

"We knew that there was a baby. I was 20 when I found out and I am 76 now." She had assumed that the boy had been given up for adoption.

Mrs Clements said she had tried to get her father to admit the dead baby was his but he had so far refused. "He was very worried about the consequences might be."


Original article here