The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1907-09-14 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. YOUNG WOMAN TAKES RAT POISON. ESTHER WILLIAPAS SENT TO A  11111 WE  A ease that has aroused considerable isteres t was heard at the nurough Police Court on Thursday, before Alderman T. Cook and kr. L. C. Elmslie, when a young woman named Esther Williams, who used to reside at 8, Star-street, was charged with attempting to poison herself by swallowing a quantity of phosporous paste on the Slit nit  A young man named Robert Knowles. assistant to his father, who keeps a chemist's shop in St. Paul's-road, stated that Esther Williams came into the shop about 'three o'clock on the afternoon of last Saturday week, and asked for souse rat poison. She produced a small bottle, but witness r told her he could not give her anything for I rats to put in the bottle, and that they only kept phosphorous paste tuemall pow at 3d. each. She said that would do, and when she was supplied with a pot she asked ' how she should use it. and whether she I should spread it on bread and butter. la reply to the magistrates' ele,k. witness said this was not one of the poisons they were obliged to enter. It was marked poison, I although the lettering was very small. The prisoner to all appearances appeared to be sober. Her manner was quite pleasant, and she seemed quite rational. The poison : he thought would have killed her if she had not received medical attention. Dr. Howard stated that the prisoner was admitted to the Borough Hospital about a quarter past four the same afternoon. She was quite unconscious, and appeared to be sober. Emetics were given and other treatment administered. and at the end of about an hour the woman recovered consciousness. If she had not received attention the poison would Probably have proved fatal. The next morning the prisoner was able to talk rationally about the matter. She told him she had had some trouble at the house where she was staying with her sister-inlaw, the landlord having ordered her to go. Her mental condition appeared to be quite sound. The prisoner had expressed her regret to him for what she had done. P.C. 14C (Bowen) said that about 3.30 a boy came and told him that his auntie had killed herself at 8, Star-street. He went there and found the prisoner lying on n sofa in an unconscious condition. He gave her an emetic and employed artificial respiration until the arrival of the ambulance. When formally charged before being brought into court with having attempted to commit suicide, she made no reply.  Emma Williams, sister of the prisoner. who lives in a lodging-house in Circusstreet. Liverpool, stated that her sister told her that she would take poison because their sister-in-law had "got on" to her. The prisoner, however, did not tell her that she had purchased any poison. In the afternoon they went to their sister-inlaw's house in Tranmere. The prisoner went out at the back, and when she returned a few minutes later she said, "send for the ambulance, I have taken poison." Her sister almost immediately after fell to the ground. -  Prisoner told the magistrates she war very sorry. She took the poison because a notice had been received from the landlord telling her to go at once, and she had no place to go to. For three days previously she had been trying to find a place in consequence of the inquiries at the house by the detectives in connection with Jessie Teare's case. The police court missionary had been looking for a home for her, but he told her sister-in-law that he could not do anything until Jessie Teare's case was settled. Mr. Russell said he had called at the house of the prisoner's sistet-in-law, and found her a 11109 t respectable woman. The prisoner's unfortunate connection with the murder case had made her case a somewhat difficult one. He was also informed that the prisoner had been in the habit of staying out late at night. If she was prepared to go into a home he could get her into one immediately. Prisoner: I am willing to go into a home, but. for.. how  The Magistrates' Clerk: Make .your arrangements with them; they will try to make you a decent woman, you know. Of course, you must promise the magistrate, that there will be nothing of this sort again. Prisoner : I will see to that, sir.  i'iis";iie; *was- --turwpc;,-; discharged  THE Do