The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1909-09-25 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

UPROAR AT GRAVESIDE. DISGRACEFUL SCENES AT GIRL SUICIDE'S FUNERAL  During the funeral of Harriet Blake, aged le; Of 9, WaUOlitefreet, *hos it Wilt be remembered comwitted auicide by drowning herself in the West Float, some estraordinary scenes occurred.. The interment took place on Tuesday at Flaybriek Rill, Cemetery, and the neighbours living within a wide radius of Watson-street, attended and showed unusual hostility toward the husband and mother of the young woman. _  -r;;Owd, numbering about 2,0d0 people, I with a preponderance of women, walked with the cortege from the house to Flaybrick Hill Cemetery, Old the proceedings during the whole of the journey were of an exceptionally unpleasant character, accusations being levelled at the girl's mother and the husband, both of whom drove to ' the Cemetery. The remarkable "demonstration" necessitated the attendance of a number of police, who jierforce had to walk to the cemetery. They succeeded in quelling,the disturbance to a certain extent, but for a long time the crowd, and especially the feminine components of it, was greatly excited. It was fortunate that the police had received warning of the state of affairs, for their presence in large numbers had the elect of preventing actual violence. It had been reported that the crowd intended to upset the funeral brougham, but, happily, each a disgraceful act was not committed. Even at the graveside the disorder and abusive language continued, although whilst the Rev. Edward Fletcher (St. James's) was conducting the service things became a little quieter. Contrary to what has been stated no damage was done to the cemetery flowers or trees, although this might have happened had not Mr. Jones, the undertaker, used his influence over the crowd. Blake, the hesband of the young woman, would certainly have been roughly handled afterwards but for the interposition of the police, who were under the .charge of Sergt. Allan. Though he succeeded in reselling the brougham, the crowd followed; and, at the suggestion of MT. Jones Blake left the vehicle and boarded a passing tram oar. By this means he escaped the large hostile crowd awaiting the return of the funeral brougham at the house. Mr. Jones again used his influence with good effect in preventin_g the crowd from mekihg a direct attaa on Blake and his mother-in-law. It may be recalled that at the inquest on Harriet Blake, which concluded on Saturday, the Coroner (Mr. Cecil Holden) expressed himself in emphatic terms as being of opinion that the allegations against Blake were quite unfounded. The Coroner said it was obvious the woman's mind was unbalanced at the time she wrote the note which was found, and in which she said, "I cannot live this life any longer," as her allegations against her husband were absolutely untrue. The jury entirely agreed with the Coroner. The relatives and friends who attended the funeral , were :—Mr. Blake (hushlind). Mrs. Davies (mother). Mrs. Pleavin (sister) Mr. J. Davies (brother), Miss Davies and Mies B. Davies (slaters), Master T. Davies (brother), Mrs. Bell and Mrs. Popplewell (Amite), Mies Carrington, Miss Davies, Miss M. Davies (cousins), Mrs. Ledsham and Miss Blithe (sisters-in-law), MT. Blake and Mr. Pleavin (brothers-in-law). A number of floral tributes were sent. Messrs. Edward Jones And Co., 84, Conwaystreet, had charge of the funeral arrangements. •