The Sun. — 1850-03-26 (London, England)

TVESTMIIVSTER.  LAMENTABLE CASE.—Martha Wright, an intelli• gent-looking girl, apparently not more than sixteen years of age, whose appearance denoted the ravages of disease, was charged with attempting to commit suicide. _  Henry Govers, a journeyman smith, stated that he was crossing Westminster- bridge at about eleven on Friday night, when observing somebody at the bottom of the steps moving towards the water he went to the spot, and found defendant in the act of taking her shoes off. He told her that he hoped she was not going to commit suicide, when she replied, "That sbe had enough to make her do it." He then remarked that whatever her circumstances were here they would be worse if she committed self-destruction, and requested her to 'come up the steps with him, which she said she would if he would go first. Observing a police inspector at that moment passing witness left her for a moment to call him, and as he returned the defendant threw herself into the water. He jumped  i❑ after her and brought her to the shore immediately, but had considerable difficulty in doing so owing to the depth of the mud. He then assisted the police inspector in conveying her to the Westminster Hospital, where she remained until brought before the magistrate. Mr. BRODERIP inquired of the defendant, whose pallid countenance indicated the deepest sorrow, whether she wished to say anything ? De..fwndant replied in a low tone of voice, that about seven months ago she went to nurse her sister, who was lying dangerously ill with the cholera, and being herself attacked with it, became an inmate of Bethnal-green workhouse. On leaving there she was told to go to her own parish, which she did, but they refused to receive her, and told her to go back to where t•he came from. She was met by a young man and decoyed away, and having disgraced herself, she was ashamed to return home, and thought if she jumped into the water, her departure from the path of virtue would be unknown.  Mr. BRoDERIr asked her if she heartily repented of her wicked attempt to destroy herself? The girl replied that she did most truly. Mr. BRODERIP inquired whether any of her friends were in attendance, and her mother having stood forward, he inquired whether she would take charge of her daughter ? The mother, a very creditable-looking middleaged woman, burst into a flood of tears, and said thlt she could not, in the girl's present shocking condition.  It having been intimated that the girl was in a most deplorable state of disease' Mr. BRODER'? expressed himself at a loss what to do with her.  The Chief Usher suggested that there was no doubt Mr. Burryll, who is a subsdriber to the Lock Hospital, would, at his next sitting, on Thursday, give her as order for admission into that institution. Mr. BRoDERIP asked the mother whether she could provide for the girl until then? The poor woman replied that she could not. She had been left with eight children, and had married again, but her husband was out of work ; and even had she the means of conveying the girl, who was too ill to walk, to her home, mar Bow, she did not think her daughter's stepfather would receive her. Mr. BRODERIP, hiving been told that it was doubt ful whether she would be received by the parish, determined upon remanding her until Thursday, as it was impossible in hergstate to turn her into the streets ; but the matter having been mentioned to Mr. Collies, one of the relieving officerF, who came to the court in the course of the afternoon, he immediately gave an order fur her admission into S. MargareCs work house, whither she was conveyed.  At the conclusion of the case, Mr. BRODERIP observed that the conduct of the witness Govers had been most praiseworthy, and directed that 10s. reward should be given him out of his (the magistrate's) private fund. C'