The Haslingden Gazette. — 1909-04-10 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

ACCRINGTON WOMAN ATTEMPTS SUICIDE  HER. SECOND ATTEMPT.  REMANDED FOR OBSERVATION.  On Tuesday morning, at the Accrington Police Court, before Messrs. W. Browning (presiding, and W. Hoyle, a married wonian, named Mary Thompson. residing at 77. Dale-street, was charjed 1,011 attempting to .ommit suicide.  The Chief Constable (Mr. (leo. Sinclair) :aid the alleged offence was committed on March 30th. About 3-30 that afternoon a young man named F•ani Testier happened to be passing prisoner'', house when he noticed her in the house in a crouching position, and she appeared to be in great pain. She had a bottle in her hand, and Towler took it from her. asking her if she had taken all the contents. Prisoner replied that she had. Towler at once sent for a policeman, who adminia tered an emetic of salt and water. This did not provc effective and Dr. Beaton was cent for. He was almost immediately on the scene, and gave her an emetic, which caused her to vomit, and he would tell them that in all probability the prisoner would have died had elle not been made to vomit. The poison taken appeared to be 11011/0 preparation for rubbing. The Chief went on to any that as that was the second occasion upon which the prisoner had attempted to take her life within six weeks he only intended to offer sufficient evidence to justify a remand for a week, so that she could he sent to Preston and be under the observation of the doctor there. The doctors who had been attending the woman were of opinion that she was suffering from melancholy. Dr. Geddie, who had examined her, was of opinion that there was not sufficient insanity to warrant her being sent to an asylum, so that the authorities were placed in a peculiar position. When she lied been under the observation of the prison doctor and had heard his report the magistrates would know what to do. Fred Towhee, who live: in Dale-street, stated that at 3-10 on Tuesday afternoon, March 30th, lie went to 77, Dale-street, where the prisoner re. sided. He new her crouching in the front coon, and she appeared to be in great pain, resting lea head in her hands. She had the bottle produced in her left liand. Witness took the bottle from her and asked her if she had drunk the whole of the contents. She replied that she had, and lie then sent for the police Dr. Beaton, physician and surgeon. practising in Accrington, said he was called to the prisoner's house on the afternoon in question. He found her suffering from the effects of opium poisoning. , 011 e at once gave her an emetic, which had time effect of making her vomit.  The Chief (instable: If she had not vomited what, in your opinion, would have happened? The Doctor: It all depends how much the kettle contained. I cannot say whether it was full, or only partly 80. The Chief: But ..he would have been in danger of dying: The Doctor: Oh. yea. The Deputy Clerk (Mr. Jos. Broughton): What do you say about her condition?  The Chief: I do not. think it necessary to go into that question today. I will aak the doctor this question: If she is allowed to remain in her present condition do you think there is a danger of her repeating the attempt on her life? The Doctor: Yes, by all means. tin being told she would be remanded for a ,iieek prisoner exclaimed: " My head was very bad at the time"