The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1870-06-10 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

ANOTHER TRAGEDY PREVENTED.—At the Thames Police Court, on Monday, Ellen Wallis, aged 27, , of Poplar, of no occupation, was charged with attempting to drown herself and two illegitimate children, named Jane Wallis and John Christian Wallis, in the Thames. John Chapman, described as a water-clerk, and who stated that he was traveller to a vinegar merchant, and was dwelling in Sparrow Corner, Minories, said he had lived with the prisoner several years, and that a few weeks ago he separated from her and agreed to allow her 10s. a we. k for the maintenance of herself and their two surviving children. He had occasionally called upon her in the street called Blackwell Harbour. Since they parted on Sunday morning he called at the prisoner's house. She was not at home. He took out the eldest child, aged one yearend eleven months, to amuse it and look at the steamers from the Black- , wall pier. When he returned with the child she was ' not at home. He returned to the pier, and she came after him with the other child. She was much excited and began to abuse him, and said she would murder the two children. He said she would trt hanged if she did. The prisoner took up one child , and ran towards the water. She put it down again, and took the two children in her arms and jumped off the pier into the water with both. He called out, "Murder! Save them! Save my children !" and they were got out alive. They were taken to a house in the neighbourhood. The youngest, baby, six months old., was insensible, but, by the advice of a medical man, was put into a warm bath, and recovered.—George Connell, a lock-gate keeper, gave confirmatory evidence, and said the water wa 22feet deepwheretheprisonerjumped in. Carolinell'Laren, a widow, heard the screaming and shouting of the people on the Blackwell pier, and saw the woman and her children in the water. They were taken out of the river and taken to the house of the witness. After the baby was put into the hot bath and recovered the prisoner seized it by the neck, compressed the throat, and made an attempt to strangle it. The prisoner said she would die with the children, and repeated this several times.—The prisoner said she had lived many years with Chapman as his wife, and been a true, industrious, end faithful companion to him. He began to ill-use Ler more than twelve months ago, and said he had MI. other wife living. A few weeks since he abandoned her altogether and bad allowed her only lOs a we, k for the support of herself and two children. She was sorry for what she had done, but she was goaded to it by Chapman. He said several times, "Do it! Do it! Drown yourself and the children."—Chapman denied that this was true. Mary Ann Webster, wife of an engineer, was on the Blackwell pier, and heard the prisoner and Chapman quarrelling about nis first wife. The prisoner said, "Why did you deceive me? You are a married man." He told the prisoner to take the children home; and she said, "No, I will not; ril chuck them into the river." Chapman said, "What are the children ml ?" And she said, "The children are yours. I'll throw them into the water and myself after them." Chapinen said, "Do it, do it" several times. Tbe prisoner took up the children and WaS ruuniug towards the water when she fell down. She got up again and then plunged into the water.—Mr. Lushington said it was his duty to commit the prisone, for trial at the July sessions of the Central Crhninn. t ',Awl for ihe at tempt to murder her children.