The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1888-01-14 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.  Some extraordinary disclosures were made in the course of a case heard at Bow-street Police Court last Saturday, in which Mary Wilson, aged 58, was chareed with attempting to commit suicide by taking laudauum.—Mr Marcus Lewis appeared for the defence. Police-constable Robertson, 163 E, deposed that at two o'clock on the rooming of the 4th inst. he was on duty in St. Martin's-place, when he saw the defendant sitting on the doorsteps of the Vestry Hall. lie asked her what elm was doing there, aria she replied that she had taken laudanum. She produced two small bottles and a large one, and said she had emptied the contents of the smaller bottles into the larger one, and had swallowed the laudanum. She said she was in great trouble, and was in arrears with her rent. She thought it would be better to do away with herself. She had been to the river with the object of taking her life, but the water looked so cold, dark, and dreary, that she could not summon sufficient courage to make the attempt. She was conveyed to King's College Hospital, where she had remained until the present occasion.— Mr Marcus Lewis, on behalf of the defendant, said he had known her for upwards of 30 years, and her history was a most painful one. She had been well brought up, and at one time had lived in affluence. Many years since she had lived under the protection of a gentleman who had died leaving considerable property. She had a son by this gentlernau, and on his desth he left the son a large sum of money, amounting to some thousands of pounds. Unfortunately the son died without making any will. The result was that the whole of the property was forfeited to the Crown, from whom she had since received 1:23 per annum. This was merely an act of concession, as she had no legal claim. He (Mr Lewis) could not say to a thousand what the actual amount left by the son was, but he believed it was some seven or eight thousand pounds which he possessed at the time of his death.—Mr Bridge asked if the defendant had any relatives.—Mr Lewis said he was .informed she had had a brother who was an officer in the navy, but he was now dead. Her allowance was a very slender one, amounting to only 106 per week, and she found it difficult to tive—it was but an existence—and she appeared to have increased her difficulties by getting into arrears with her landlord. In a fit of desperation she had attempted her life.—Mr Bridge asked what could be done 7—Mr Lewis suggested that some assistance could be rendered by a remand, when he would communicate with one or two people on her behalf.—Mr Bridge suggested that it would be well to draw up a petition for presentation to the authorities. --Mr Lewis had thought of this, and it had been done. He thought it right to state at once that defendant's Bon had died, leaving an illegitimate son, and the Crown had allowed, in addition to the £25, a sum of £lOO per annum for the maintenance of that child.--Mr Bridge asked the age of the grandson.—Mr Lewis said 16, and at present he was in the custody of an aunt on the mother's side. He (Mr Lewis) was at school with defendant's son, and had done all in his power to assist her. The great difficulty met throughout with charitable institutions and benevolent persons was in the fact that this woman had once sinned.—Mr Bridge thought that if it were possible to secure her £1 per week she would be provided for, and again suggested that Mr Lewis should petition the Treasury.— Defendant was remanded pending the adoption of this course, and was removed to the infirmary of the House of Detention in a cab.  For a sustaining, comforting, and nourishing beverage drink Cadbury's Coma, and do not be nersuaded to accept a substitute.