The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1865-06-20 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

ATTEMPTED SELF-DsereuerlOrr.—The good folks of Allington were not a little surprised on Wednesday afternoon to learn that Mrs. Elizabeth Payne, a nice. looking young woman, who was married last Christmas and whose husband has lately been absent at Bea, had attempted to oommit suicide. It seems that some of the neighbours had been retailing scandal in regard to the poor woman, which, with the knowledge that her husband was homeward-bound, made her very despondent and low-spirited. She had also lately been unwell, and was "light-headed" on the previous Tuesday. She resides in the same house as Mrs. Mounted], her sister-in-law, and about ten minutes to two on Wednesday afternoon she went upstairs without saying anything. About five minutes afterwards Mrs. Hommel' had occasion to go into her bed-room for a ball of cotton, when she heard a moaning noise, and want halfway up the garret stairs, sad then saw Mrs. Payne hanging by the neck, from a thin cord,doubled, fastened to the beam by • nail. She was moving. Mrs. Hounsell called Charles Richards, who immediately came and cut her down. At that time Mrs. Payne wee hanging motionless. Vinegar and water was applied to her head, and in about five minutes consciousness was restored.- The same evening she was apprehended by the police, and on Thursday morning was brought up before the Mayor, when the above facts were deposed. to. Prisoner seemed much to regret her rash act, and cried bitterly. She expressed her sorrow for what she had done, but offered no explanation of the cause of it. She woe remanded till Monday when she was again placed at the bar before the Mayor and J. Williams, Esq. The following additional evidence was adduced :—Mr. F. Scott, surgeon, said, I saw the prisoner on Thursday evening at the praise station. I examined her to asoertain the state a her mind. I believe her to be perfectly sane, and in her right mind. I have attended prisoner before—ebout three or four months ago. She was ill for about 10 days or • fortnight. I have never thought there was anything the matter with her mind. To the beet of my knowledge she has never suffered from severe headaches. I cannot account for her present conduct, only lowness of spirits. Any one in good health and at tine same. time very low in spirita, must, I should think, be inclined to insanity. Ido not think such is the ,ase with. the prisoner. P.C. Paulley, spoke to receiving the. cord with which the attempt was made from. Charles Richards. and to apprehending prisoner at the house of Mr. Abbott. When he charged her with the, attempt to take her own life she made no answer.—Tbe nasal caution having been reed to the prisoner, shereplied that she had nothing to may, but was very sorry for what had occurred. —The Mayor said it was the most painful case ever he had had to adjudicate upon. }loth himself and his brother magistmte thong h t the crime. was so 000ly done that they could not overlook it, and they must commit her for trial. He (the Mayor) hoped at first that it would have been proved by the medical officer to be a case of temporary insanity, but such, he wars sorry to say, was not the case. He hoped the prisoner would always remember the little iseideal that. had saved her from the grave —the fetching of • ball of ootton by one of the witnesses. Re would now commit her for trial at the next Quarter Tessitcris, aid he hoped that when she returned she would look upon her late candeet with horror, and it might be that this occur. renoe would have • good effect upon her conduct for life. The prisoner, who appeared to feel her situation most mutely, was then removed. She was much pitied by all in court.