Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1899-07-28 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

GIRL'S SUICIDE AT NELSON. THE OVERIAXMER EXONERATED FROM  BLAME.  In the Town Hall on WedneAlay afternoon, Mr. Robinson conducted an inquiry relative to the death of Kate Elizabeth Howarth, age 18, of 22, Burlington-street, who committed suicide on Monday evening by taking a quantity of carbolic fluid. The following evidence was adduced : .  . -Mary Jane Howarth, mother of the deceased, said her daughter had complained lately about her work, and although she had earned more wages previously, the last two or three Weeks bad not yielded much money. When she came home on Monday, she was troubled owing to putting some wrong " weft " in the loom, and in the evening witness left the house to go and see her sister with the intention of asking her to look after her daughter at the mill. She was fetched home about 8-30, and her daughter was lying on the bed, 1111C011STiolls and foaming at the mouth. There was a strong smell of carbolic, and she immediately sent for Dr. Findlay. Her daughter, however, expired the name night. Cross-examined : She said her daughter was very timid, and naturally she was afraid of tne overlooker. She had never made any complaint against him, and she did not think he was to blame.  Richard Gill, weaver' son-in-law of last witness, 13, Bishop-street, Nelson, said on Monday deceased's brother came to his house, where Mrs. Howarth wa,. and from what. he said he went to 22, Burlington-street and saw deceased on the bed. Subsequently he found the acid in the front room. Deceased was of a very nervous di9o.itiou.  Mary Eltzabeth Sharpies, weaver, age 13, said she worked next to deceased, and although the latter did not earn much money it was not her fault but the fault of the work. Deceased said to her that she a-as afraid to go home at night as her mother would complain, and last week she said if her mother mentioned anything about her work she would drink some carbolic acid which she had bought. Witness told her not to do such a silly act. Cros,-examined : The tackler had never said anything to deceased, and he was in no way to blame, for she had not heard him say anything to her except on one occasion when she was late for work.  The Coroner said there was no doubt the. girl had not been getting as much money as previously ; but. still it was not her fault. She had taken this carbolic aciu with the intention of killing herself, but at the same time be did not think she was responsible for her actions. He did not think the overlooker was to blame, and there did not. appear to have been any slave. driving. If anything, the slave-driving had been at home.  At the suggestion of a juryman. Mr. Blakey, the overlooker, was called, and in reply to questions said he was satisfied with the work the girl did. She was employed on old looms, and although there was not as much money to be earned off these as modern looms, she' compared favourably with any weaver who worked that particular loom. It had gone abroad that she had committed suicide through him, but he wished to state he had never spoken a wrong word to the girl.  The jury intimated that there was no blame attached to the overlooker. The mother was re-called, and in reply to a juryman, said she bad occasionally complained to her daughter because she thought she had been playing. She could not understand why her daughter had told the witness Sharpies that she was always complaining, as she had done all in her power to assist her.  A verdict of suicide whil,t temporarily insane was returned, and a rider was added suggesting that the Corporation should label all vessels containing carbolic acid.