The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-03-29 00:00:00

SINGULAR ATTACK UPON A LIVERPOOL
CLERGYMAN BY A MAD WOMAN. ,

Ann Drummond, a woman labouring under a singular
delusion, was charged at the Police-court, on Thursday,
with using abusive and threatening language to the Rev.
J. R. Conor, incumbent of St. Simon's Church, Gloucester-
street. The defendant appeared about 40 years of age. was
neatly attired, but her peculiar manner indicated that she
was labouring under an aberration of intellect.. Upon her
name being called, she stood forward and emphatically
said, " That is not my name ; my name is Ann Lathom.
She then displayed a small parcel of thyme, and ejacu-
lated, "This is it." Mr. Wybergh told her that she was
chareed by the Rev. Mr. Conor with having, on the 21st
instant, used abusive language to him in Bolton-street,
with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.—Defendant :
Oh, no, sir.—The Rev. Mr. Conor said that he became
acquainted with the woman fourteen years ago, in conse-
quence of being connected with the Provident Society,
but latterly she was deranged, and had become a perfect
nuisance in the church. On Monday night last he was
leaving St. Simon's school-room, when the defendant
rushed into the passage and endeavoured to stop him, in
order to have some conversation with him. He, however,
declined to speak to her, and then a witness came up,
when she entered into an altercation with him. He (Mr.
Conor) did not hear her then make use of abusive lan-
guage, but she had disturbed him when preaching in
church, by crying out that he would go to hell.—Defen-
dant (excited) : Never, sir.—The rev. Mr. Conor conti-
nued by saying that lately, when administering the holy
communiore, defendant was forbidden to approach, but
she persisted, and, in order to prevent a, disturbance, he
permitted her to come near him. She then seized his sur-
plice, and tore it.—Defendant (to Mr. Conor) : You were
married before you were married in Liverpool ; you have
done wrong. She further said, " You are the man that
has done my job for me, and you must look to me. He
knows plenty."—Mr. James Lowe, scripture. reader in
connexion with St. Simon's Church, said he was• present
when the occurrence in question took place. Mr. Conor
walked away when the defendant attacked him. She then
said that she was an injured woman, and would not rest
until she had satisfaction from Mr. Conor. That gentle-
man, she said, had committed adultery with bar, and
was the father of one of her children.—Mr. W. Nicol;•the
magistrate, asked the unfortunate woman what she had
to say ?—Defendant : I have nothing to say only this.- I
am twenty years under persecution, and it all rests upon
Mr. Conor. lam like Ridley and Latimer ; lam in the
tire, but not blazing. T want to get out of the persecu-
tion lam in. lam persecuted body and soul. I cannot'
get peace ; therefore, I want to-be rid of them. Put the fire
out of me at once, and get rid of me.—The Rev. Mr. Conor"
asked the magistrate whether it was necessary to swear"
that he never had any improper intimacy with the woman.
—Mr. Nicol : No, not at all.—Defendant (to Mr. Conor):
My John is your son, and you sent' him away.—The ma-
gistrate expressed an opinion that the woman was insane,
and a surgeon who was sent for from the Northern Hos-
pital said, that there was not the slightest doubt that she
was labouring under insanity. The deranged woman
was then removed in the custody of an officer.—The Rev.
Mr. Conor again asked the magistrate whether he should
say anything in reference to the assertion of the defendant
affecting his character, but Mr. Nicol said there was no
occasion, as it was quite evident the woman was insane.