Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1903-10-02 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.  NELSON GIRL TAKES LAUDANUM.  Yesterday morning a Nelson young woman named Margaret Alice Greenhalgh, was charged at the Nelson Police Court with attempting to commit suicide. The magistrates were Alderman William Hartley, and Mr. Wm. Reed. It was stated that prisoner who is a weaver and resides at 23 Garfield-street, Nelson attempted to put an end to her life by swallowing a quantity of laudanum at Cie Derby Hotel, on Wednesday evening. Frances Hannah, mason, of 9, Harveystreet, Nelson, said that, on the previous day about 5-30 p.m., he was in the Derby Hotel, in Scotland-road, where he saw Fri.. oner in a little room besides the bar. He had had some conversation with her before she went into the hotel as they knew each other. Seeing prisoner go into the Derby he followed her and saw her sitting in the room mentioned. She said she was going to have a drink. butdid not order anything. Another man was in the romit and witness was speaking to him, when he heard a cork drawn and on turning round saw the woman with a small bottle to her mouth. He quickly snatched it away from her mouth and saw that the bottle was labelled poi:son. Prisoner then fell back, and he called the landlord, Mr. Riley telling him that. a woman had been trying to poison herself. He gave the bottle produced to the landlord. A policeman and a doctor were sent for and witness remained in the hotel until they arrived. The prisoner had said nothing to witness what she intended to do. All she had said was that her looms had got "shopped." He told her not to trouble as she might be able to get some more. P.C. S. Brown said that on Wednesday about a quarter to six he was passing the Derby Hotel when lie wa.s called in. Ho saw prisoner in a very sleepy condition, sitting in the ''snug room." After inquiring what was the matter, lie told the landlord to get some warm milk and a raw egg. This prisoner took and it made her very sick. Shortly afterwards Drs. Ritchie and Mitchell were called in and the woman was taken to the police station where witness charged her with attempting suicide by taking laudanum poison. She said the reason who she did it was that she had had nothing to eat for three days. She went to the mill to her work and found they had "shopped" her looms. Witness told the bench that the doctors had said she was now out of danger. Prisoner said she had had nothing to eat since Sunday because she was unwell and could not eat anything.  Annie Hannah, wife of the first witness, said that she had known prisoner for a long time and she would undertake to look after her until she got well if she ( prisoner) would go and live with her.  Prisoner said she hadn't been well for a. few weeks and she should have gone to her work on Monday. She was unable to do so owing to sickness, and she went on Wednesday morning only to find they had, "shopped" her looms. She had a. little boy to keep and never expected to make all this trouble. Alderman Hartley: Now you know this a very seriou.s matter and you may have been dead now. If you are prepared to go with Mrs. Hannah, who is very kind to make such au offer, we will discharge you.  Prisoner said that she would go and livo with Mr.s. Hannah and ahe waa di•charged.