The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1880-12-04 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SUICIDE.  UNHAPPY  LIFE.  SOPHIA STADISO, a married woman, living in Willaston-place, was brought before Mr. Preston on Tuesday last, at the Borough Police Court, charged with attempting to commit suicide by drowning herself on the previous night. Mr. Whereat, inspector at the Woodside ferry, said that on Monday evening about Ihalf-past ton the woman came down to the ferry, and passed through the turnstile. She seemed in an excited state, and he saw her as site was crossing the bridge, jump from it into the river. Witness called out to two men who were on the floating bridge to stop her. Sho was carried by the current about 30 or 40 yards, when the men, whose names were Brandon and Halewood, got dowa on the I pontoons of the floating bridge, and so succeeded in stopping her, and pulled her out just in time to prevent her being carried away by the current. The distance she dropped from the ferry bridge into the water was from 15 to 18 feet. It was quite dark at the time, and raining fast. After being taken out of the water, she said her husband illtreated her very much, and that she would make away with herself rather than live with him again. John Thomas Daintree, toll-taker at the ferry, said she passed through his stile and paid him Id. After going a few yards beyond she turned back again and paid hint 2.1. more, saying that, two old people were coining behind her. She seemed in a very excited state, so he went out of the stile and told the officer, who ran to stop her, but before he could get there she was over into the water. She was very excited when she paid him the 21, and said that the old people would not see her again. Ferry-constable 2, Skinner, said the last witness told him that a WOlll4ll teed gone ! through in a very excited state, and he ran after her. He saw the shadow of her clothes :las she jumped in the water but was not in time to catch her. He heard her scream as she fell. Two men got on the pontoon of the roadway and ptuled her out of the water. Witness went to her, when she asked "am I saved?" He replied "Yea." She it en said " Thank God !"  The prisoner in defence said her husband had threatened her life so many times that she could not live with him.  John Kalil, father of the prisoner, WM called forward and said ho WM with her at the time of the occurrence. He and his wife were going to Cro.B the ferry to Liverpool, whore he lived. His daughter wanted to go with him, and was so excited he did not know , what to do with her, aml was almost inclined Ito gi:e her in charge. He did not want her to go with him across the ferry, for he thought 1 by her manner she was going to commit ' suicide. She was in the habit of taking what she ought not to, and it drove her mad, She came to him once with two pistols, crying out , that her husband was going to kill her and her two children, Her hualand was in the employ of the Pacific Steam Navigation Compaey. She was at times quite out of her mini, and would declare that her husband NVILS going to blow her brains out. Ho could not tell which was in fault—her or her husband. The latter told him the pistols were bought to sell again, and not to do any hurt to his daughters. They had been married about 23 years. _  the daughter of tho prisoner, a girl of 17, said she had never noticed anything wrong in her mother's behaviour. Neither of her parents drank. They did not agree. Sometimes her father would not speak to her mother for a fortnight or three weeks at a time. Her mother had never done anything of this kind before.  Henry Stag.ling, the husband, was called, and said that his treatment of her was entirely owing to her own bad behaviour. She would go out drinking and talking with other women instead of minding her work at home. She was drunk when this event happened. . . . .  The magistrate, addressing the prisoner, said she had escaped death almost by a miracle. Having jumped at ten o'clock at night into the river, and being carried down by the tide, it was an extraordinary thing  that she was eared. It showed great promptitude on the part of the officials of the ferry. She was liable to be sent for trial :for the offence, and he did not feel that he would discharge her at present. He would, therefore, remand her until the following day, in order that she might be examined sa to her mental condition by a medical man. Meanwhile, her husband might see her, and he hoped that some arrangement could be come to between them, whereby they might lire peaceably together or else be separated altogether, .  On Wednesday, the prisoner was again brought before his Worship. Her father said her husband was willing to take her back and try again. . . _  Supenntendent Clarke said he had made enquiries and found that the prisoner had been in the habit of taking a lot of drink. She had been taken home helplessly drank by the police. She was in the habit of mixing with a lot of women living in Willastonplace, who went from house to house drinking. She was in liquor when she committed the offence. Her husband was willing to give her another chance, if she would leave Willaston-place and take a house in another part of the town. His Worship 'Recharged the prisoner, but warned her that if sho was again brought before him for such an offence she would certainly be sent for trial.. Superintendent Clarke said this was the fourth case where Brandon had saved life at Woodside Ferry by his prompitude and activity.