The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1902-10-01 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

THROUGH I TELEPHONE.  At an occaaional court of the County Police held in Abbey-street. on Monday. before Col., Stitt, a young woman, aged named Rlisaitieth Clarks, housemaid in the einPlo7 of the Rev. R. Winter, Chaplain of St. James' Cemetery, Liverpool, was charged on remand with having attempted to commit suicide in Basthem Woode on the 19th September.  Jane Ellen Richards, cook in the same employ, stated that on the evening of the 13th September the prieoner appeared to be in an excited condition, and from the threats she made use of seemed to soreloete eelf-de/Unction. Prisoner ran out of the house with her hat and jacket on. but Atreus followed, and persuaded her to re-eater the house. Witness than told the prisoner that She most either " go to bed, and be quiet," or be given in charge to the police. PnGoner went to bed, and appeared to be suite reasonable. Next morning prisoner got up early, and stated to witness her intention of going, but witness told her she must not leave without her box, as "the master wanted to know whes:yrinst to." Prisoner then commenced to ono her duties about the house, and the would wait and see the master. Witness was in the dining room an which there was a parrot, and prisoner shortly afterwards came to bar, and bold her to shut the door, ea the parrot wodld " wake the mer." Witness shut the door, 11111 monied. and prisoner then mint kW% slipped out of the house, as witness wee anable to find her. About two o'clock so the same deter witness wee called to the tel.' phone, and .bp recognised by the voice that ft• prireW was speaking to her. Prisoner asked if Will, the gardener, had been there. Witnene said be had not, and would never coma again. Witness asked the prisoner why she had lift be that manner, end the prisoner replied that she thought that we. the ben way. Prisoner then said, "Goodbye, Neil,"- and witness said " Goorhler• Rue.. end good Ws to you." Witham then asked her what the was going to do with her box, and prisoner said the would never want it again, as she was jut going to Smith bereelf. Witnese asked Olark where the was telephoning from, bat poisoner refused to tell her, and eaid that did not matter. Prisoner had on several ocousione recently threatened self destruction. She bad mid that if she ever got into trouble she would do for tweed. On one occasion the obtained possession of the masher's sword, and said that the would kill herself before Were fore only that the word was not sharp enough. Witness took the sword from her. Dr. G. Whibe,honee surgeon at the Borough Hospital, said that he happened to be at E•etham on the day in question, aod be was summoned to Peethern Woods, where he found the prisoner lying unconscious on the ground. Dr. Knott of Little Sutton, also came upon the soene, and prisoner was conveyed to • neighbouring cottage, where • stomach pump was need without anomie. Prisoner was conveyed. in an uncoils:Sous °condition, to the Borough Hospital in a crab. Her life was in dower for about Pe hours. Her mouth and throat were severely bunged, and it appeared as 3tf the had taken some sarong acid. The symptoms were movie:eat with carbolic acid vomiting. The wile of a pilot, named Onion, who lives in New Perry-lane, Eutham, stated that the prisoner came to her house shortly before 2 p.m. on the 13th September, ancL asked to be allowed to use the telephone. Witness was present while the prisoner tele phoned, but she gathered no hint of the ghee intentions from her words. All that the , noticed was that Clark spoke in a very ' melancholy tone. Superintendent Bowyer stated when be was called to the scene he found the prisoner lying unconscious on the ground, being attended to by some ladies. She was lying in • hole partly covered with form end bracken. Her hair was down, and from her disordered condition, her heir end clothes being covered with leaves and dirt, it appeared as if she had rolled about the ground in agonised struggles. He administered an emetic, and tied to restore conaciouenees by artificial respiration. but without moues. A photograph of a young man nod an unopthed packet, 'labelled ^saha of lemon." were found in the bosom of her ' &eft. P.C.Dutton stated thet °smelting a eearoh of the *pot afterwarde be found a cardboard box. Whiled °emboli* acid." on a hush *boat twenty yards from where the deceased was found. A bottle which fitted into the box, but width we. perfectly empty, and showed no save of having contained carbolic , acid, was found lying clone by on the grotto& Witnesra arrested the prn,er on the 22nd at the Borough Hospital. end in anewer to the charge she made no reply. ollide4ooner, who eppeared in a very week haviog to be assisted to and from the court, we, committed to the Cheater Quarter Sessions.