The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-26 00:00:00

gent-looking girl, apparently not more than sixt( en
years of age, whose appearance denoted the ravages
of disease, was charged with attempting to commit
suicide.

Henry Govers, a journeyman smith, stated that he
was crossing Westminster• bridge at about eleven on
Friday night, when observing somebody at the bot-
tom of the steps moving towards the water he went
to the spot, and found defendant in the act of taking
her shoes cif. He told her that he hoped she was not
going to commit suicide, when she replied, "That she
had enough to make her do it." He then remarked
that whatever her circumstances were here they would
be worse if she committed self-destruction, and re-
quested her to come up the steps with him, which she
said she would if he would go first. Observing a
police inspector at that moment passing witness left
her for a moment to call him, and as he returned the
defendant threw hersedf into the water. Ile jumped
in after her and brought her to the shore immediately,
but had considerable difficulty in doing so owing to
the depth of the mud. He then assisted the police
inspictor in conveying her to the Westminster Hos-
pital, where she remained until brought before the
magistrate. . _ _

Mr. BRODEItIP inquired of the defendant, whose
pallid countenance indicated the deepest sorrow,
whether she wished to say anything ?
D,f.endant replied in a lo w tone of voice, that about
seven months ago she went to nurse her sister, who
was lying dangerously ill with the cholera, and being
herself attacked with it, became an inmate of Beth-
nal-green workhouse. On leaving there she was
told to go to her own parish, which she did, but they
refused to receive her, and told her to go back to
where she came from. She was met by a young man
and decoyed away, and having disgraced herself, she
was ashamed to return home, and thought if she
jumped into the water, her departure from the path
of virtue would be unknown.

Mr. BRODERIP asked her if she heartily repented
of her wicked attempt to destroy herself?
The girl replied that'she did most truly.
Mr. BRODERIP inquired whether any of her friends
were in attendance, and her mother having stood
forward, he inquired whether she would take charge
of her daughter ?

The mother, a very creditable-looking middle-
aged woman, burst into a flood of tears, and said
that she could not, in the girl's present shocking
condition.

It having been intimated that the girl was in a most
deplorable state of disease,
Mr. BRODERIP expressed himself at a loss what to
do with her.

The Chief Usher suggested that there was no
doubt Mr. Burrell, who is a subscriber to the Lock
Hospital, would, at his next sitting, on Thursday, give
her an order for admission into that institution.
Mr. BRODERIP asked the mother whether she could
provide for the girl until then? The poor woman
replied that she could not. She had been left with
eight children, and had married again, but her hus-
band was out of work ; and even had she the means
of conveying the girl, who was too ill to walk, to her
home, near Bow, she did not think her daughter's
stepfather would receive her.
Mr. BRODERIP, having been told that it was doubt-
ful whether she would be received by the parish, de-
termined upon remanding her until Thursday, as it
was impossible in her state to turn her into the streets ;
but the matter having been mentioned to Mr. Collies,
one of the relieving officers, who came to the court
in the course of the afternoon, he immediately gave
an order for her admission into St. Margaret's work -
house, whither she was conveyed.
At the conclusion of the case, _

Mr. BRODERIP observed that the conduct of the
witness Govers had been most praiseworthy, and
directed that We. reward should be given him out of
his (the magistrate's) private Lund.