Evening star., 1903-07-01
ATTEMPTS AT SUICIDE
JENNIE WEST TRIES THREE
: TIMES TO KILL HERSELF.
Was a Prisoner in Cell at Police Court
Inhaled Illuminating
Gas.

Jennie West colored, about twenty years
of age. made three unsuccessful attempts
to end her life within a space OF twenty
minutes while confined as prisoner IN the
cell room at the Police Court this morning
The vigilance OF the officials In charge Oh
the cell room prevented her from carrying
out her rash act and she was placed under
watch until removed to the workhouse later
in the day.
The woman was arrested by Policeman
Cats with Anna Carter. also colored, Mon
day afternoon a charge of vagrancy
At that time they were each released on
$40 collateral. which they forfeited by their
non-appearance in court yesterday. An at
tachment was issued for them at the re-
quest of Prosecutor Pugh and they were re-
arrested and brought into court this morn
ing Policeman Cats. who brought the
charge against the women. reported to
Judge Kimball that they were inmates OF
resort In the questionable section OF the
city. After hearing statements from the
defendants the court decided against them
and imposed a fine of $40 on each. and di
rected that they should be detained at the
workhouse for six months the equiva-
lent.
The women returned to the cell room,
Jennie West giving away to tears. She
seated herself in n chair beside one of the
windows in the cell and wept for several
minutes. She quieted down in a short time,
however. and entered into conversation
with her companion and other female occu-
pants of the cell
Discovery by Agent Massie.
About 1870 o'clock Agent c. A. Masse of
the Prisoners Aid Society had occasion to
visit the cell room on an errand to deliver
a message to of the occupants. On
approa ching the grated door he noticed the
West woman standing a chair beneath
the gas jet located in the cell, one foot be-
ing on the seat of the chair and the other
the arm.
Smelling the odor of gas and seeing the
woman with her mouth closed tightly over
the one burner he called to her to desist,
but she paid no attention. and he quickly
called to other women in the cell who were
watching her. to take the woman down,
but they paid attention. At the same
time he summoned Sergt Lombardy, who
was placing a prisoner in another cell That
official responded promptly with the keys
and the iron door was hastily unlocked and
the woman was dragged down from the
chair and taken to the window where she
soon revived
She was left in the cell with the other
women and they were admonished by Sergt
Lombardy to keep strict watch over her
and call to him in case she attempted to
repeat the performance. She did repeat the
attempt and was again taken down. In a
few minutes Lombardy looked into the cell
again and found the woman in the same
position as before standing on a chair with
her mouth over the gas Jet. She was taken
down and BailiH Hughes was sent for to
stand watch over her until she was re-
moved to the workhouse. He took up po-
stion outside of the grated door where he
could have a plain view and keep the wo-
man under his vigilant eye
When asked why she attempted to COM
nit suicide she replied that she was tired
and wanted to go to sleep.