Weekly News. — 1892-06-02 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.  Clara Agnes Miles (16), domestic servant, of Wimborne, was charged with attempting to commit suicide on May 20th, by taking oxalic acid.—Frances Jane Miles, mother of the prisoner, gave evidence to the effect that about 11 o'clock on the day in question the prisoner came in, and she questioned her about a jug Which she had missed. She replied that it was broken, and that Sammy (her brother) knew all about it. After dinner witness said to prisoner, "Now, Clara, you must either show me the pieces or tell me where the jug is." She replied, 'Well, I broke it, and threw it away," Witness told her she did not believe it, and complained about things being missing from the house, , whereupon prisoner said, "You can believe it if you like; I don't care whether you do or not." She gave her head a toss, and laughed, and witness went out for three or four minutes. On her return, the prisoner, who was standing in the back wash house, said, " I shall be soon out of your way; I have been and took some poison." Witness took hold of her, when she said, "If you touch me I shall fly at you." She had a paper in her hand, and was eating something. Witness took the paper away, and it was labelled " Oxalic acid." Witness sent the prisoner last summer to buy a small quantity for the purpose of cleaning hats. She kept it in her workbox in the living room, and the prisoner knew where it was kept. She asked the prisoner if she knew where she would go, and she said," Yes. to —, and you'll soon follow." She held the prisoner till the sergeant of police came, and a doctor was sent for The girl became ill, and was put to bed.—Sergeant Sprackling stated that he saw the prisoner at her father's house at 2.45 p.m. on the day named in the charge. Her mother told him that she had taken some oxalic acid, and handed him a packet which contained a few crystals. He asked the prisoner if she had taken any of the stuff that was in the pocket, and she said" Yes." He said, "How much do you think you have taken ?" and she replied, "A teaspoonful." Asked if she had any pain she said, "My tongue and throat are very hot, and pain here," putting her hand to her stomach. Witness sent for a doctor and gave prisoner some emetics. Mr. Auld, surgeon, arrived and witness afterwards received from him a sealed bottle containing vomit, which on the following day he handed (together with the packet which he received from prisoner's mother) to Dr. Leach, of Sturminster Newton, the county analyst.—Mr. Auld stated that when he saw the prisoner about three p.m. she was suffering from slight collapse. She complained of pain in the throat and stomach. He gave her several emetics and after a time she vomited. He preserved the vomit and handed it to the police officer. The girl became faint and some brandy was given her. She didn't resist taking the remedies She was put to bed. She might be suffering from the effects of oxalic poison, but she could not have taken much of the acid. She said she spat some of it out. Witness saw about 15 grains of oxalic acid on the floor.— Dr. J. Comyns Leach, of Sturminster Newton, county analyst for Dorset, said on the 21st May be received from Sergeant Sprackling a sealed bottle containing vomit, and a paper packet containing some crystals of oxalic acid. On analyzing the vomit, he found distinct evidence of oxalic acid in a very small quantity—probably not more than two or three grains. That was not sufficient to cause death. The smallest fatal dose was 60 grains. Oxalic acid was a deadly poison if taken in larger quantities than that, but it was a very acid, acrid, burning poison, and a person would have very great difficulty in swallowing it in a solid state. It did not lose its strength by keeping.— Supt. Marsh having formally proved the arrest of the prisoner, she was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions. She mads no reply to the charge, and was ordered to be removed back to Dorchester Prison (whence she was brought the same morning) to await her trial, and to be under the supervision of the medical officer of that establiehment in the meantime.