The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1882-01-21 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

LADY WITH. "THE HORRORS.''  AT the Borough Police Court, on Monday, before Mr. Preston Sarah Jane Atkinson, living at No. 9, Chtrlton-street, irranmere, a person of ladylike appearance, and apparently about 35 years of age, was charged with wandering abroad in a state of unsound mind. Police Constable 89 stated that at about one a.m. that morning he was on duty in Church-road, Tranmere, when a gentleman came and asked him to accompany him to No. 17, Charlgrove-road, where was a lady who said she lived at No. 9. He went there and saw the prisoner. He went to No. 9 and tried to get in, but the front door was locked, though the house was lighted up. He got in at the back way and then let the prisoner in at the front door. When she entered she jumped at the stairs and said they were coming down stairs, and were going to murder her. Witness examined the house but found nobody in it. A lady living at No. 17, Charlgrove-road said that about half-past eiabt on Sunday evening a knock came to the front door, She opened it, when the prisoner rushed in and asked witness to give her protection. She told her that a lady and gentleman wanted to fire some instrument at her, which she said was like a peacock in shape, but with long prongs to it, and that the lady and gentleman had asked her to stand at her own back door while they fired that through her body. The prisoner was afraid to go into her own house. Witness took her in, and she stood in the hall for about ten minutes, when suddenly she looked very fixedly at witness and said, "There it is! There it is! It is coming!" and rushed into the drawing-room. Witness's brother-in-law and sister came in and took charge of the prisoner, who, however, would not enter her own house unless a policeman were sent for, for the only protection she could get was a policeman. The prisoner lived at No. 9, Charlgrove-road, and came there in December last. She did not seem to have any friends, and she did not know anything about her. In answer to Mr. Preston the prisoner said she had a lady and gentleman living in the house with her, but did not know who they were. She had been in Birkenhead about ten years, and had previously lived in lodgings at Mr. Edies', in Dacre-hill, and Hr. Hancock's, in Price-street. She was not afraid of anything now, and had slept in the house all night. Mr. Preston asked her about the somebody who wanted to fire the instrument through her. The prisoner said, with a smile, "Oh yes but that is all settled."  _ Superintendent Clarke said that Dr. Laidlaw knew the prisoner very well, and had informed him that she had lately been drinking very heavily. She was living at No. 9, Chatlgrove-road, and there were a man and woman living with her. She was well-to-do, and had money coming from her lawyers, Messrs. Bellringer and Waterhouse, who were winding up her husband's affairs. Her husband had been dead fourteen months, and when her affairs were settled she would have about £lOO a year. Dr. Laidlaw told him there was nothing the matter with her but delirium tremens from the effects of drink. Mr. Preston formally remanded the prisoner, with the view that her friends might be communicated with and take charge of her.