The Telegram. — 1896-06-23 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

ALLEGED ATTENIVTED SUICIDE.  Anuses Ann Down, a domestic servant, of Wiahford and until recently in the employ of John Cooper, decorator, of 79, Fisherton Street, Salisbury. was brought up In custody before Mr. W. Pinckney at Salisbury, on Saturday, charged with attempting to commit suharte by drowning herself at Wisliford on the previous Thursday.—Mr. W. H. Jackson, of Salisbury, defended.—Prederick King. sob of William King, a labourer, of Wishford, deposed that on the evening of the date mentioned he went with other buys to the river at Wishtord for the purpose of bathing. He saw the prisoner standing in the grass by the sidle of the river, and noticed her take her hat oil and putt on the ground. Having walked on for about 100 yards witness looked back, and then returned to the spot with a companion. Prisoner was then sitting by the side of the river against the root of a tree with her feet in the water. She hail uot her hat on, and her hair was slightly wet behind, whilst her clothes were very wet. She said to them, "Co back ; 1 don't want you," and witness's companion (Fredk. Stokes) thereupon took hold of her and pulled her back. She asked them to leave her alone, saying that she would rather die than go to her home. They, however, succeeded in getting her up and took her towards her house. On the way she said that if she "didn't do it then she hail a mind to do it another day." Witness then left her near the Royal Oak Inn.—Cross-examined The place where the posoner was by the side of the river wan 100 yards from the footpath. When site took her hat off , she had her back to the river and was facing witness I and his companioo, She took her hat eff quietly, and I placed it on the ground. The water was about I two feet deep at the 51st where they saw her sitting. They thought she was going to drown herself. The unit was about seven o•elock. Pnsoners dress was wet on the sliouldeni, Alla the front '• solid wet." Ile thought that she had been lying in the water. The dress and jacket produced by Inipectur borgstone were he those prisoner was wearing at the time.—Frederick Stoke.s, a shepherd, of Wishtord, gave corroborative evidence and also atateil that when he told prisoner to get up and go to her home she replied that she would sooner stay where she was and oie than go to her home any more. On arriving near the Royal Oak In she said that the parpie were all taking about her and witness advised her not to trouble Mout that. He afterwards left her ill charge of tier brothee—Cross-examinerl : He did not notice whetle•r her face and the top of her head were wet. There vas a hatch near the spot, but he did not know whether it was up. When witness first saw the accused she appeariil tube crying. He hail not heard people talk about her. Emma Down, wife of lie,,. Down, of W ishforl, anti the mother of the primmer, deposed that her daughter had been in service in Salisbury. She was served with a summons for larceny on Wednesday. the 10th inst., and became very excited, stating that she did not think that she should live to go through the disgrace. On Thursday, they went to Salisbury to net Mrs. Matilda Cooper, the prisoner's late mistress, to try and induce her to forgive the offence, at the same tune promising to pay all expenses. Mrs. Cooper, however, declined to dnn snn, and they returned to Wialiford. Prisoner afterwards became very quiet. P dice-Inspector ',mistime, of Wilton, stated that he Went to prisoner's father's house about 11.30 on Friday morning, and told prisoner, in the presence of her mother, that he hail received information that she Mel attempted to drown herself. She appeared very excited and commenced to cry. Her mother said, " Yes; she has been served with a summons since we saw you. Yesterday, my daughter and I went to Salisbury to ask Mrs. Cooper to forgive her, and she refused. I have had no rest with her since. Yesterday she threatened to throw herself under the train." Witness afterwards charged prisoner with attenniting to commit suicide, but she made no reply. He was shown the clothes she wore on the previous day and they were then quite wet, although they had been placed is the garden to dry. He took ber into custody and broliiht her to Salisbury—The magistrate having intimated his intention of committing prisoner for trial, she pleaded not guilty and reserved her defence. -She was then committed to take her trial at the Qom ter Sessions, which are to be held at Warminster on the 30th of this month. She was admitted to bail. There wants charge down for hearing at the Salisbury City Petty Sessions on Monday against the same girl (Agnes Ann Down) of stealing a lady's jacket, vahied at 15s, the property of her former employer, John Cooper, of Fishation Street.—The fact that the coil; ianrogtel e r h of ad . tt e alreadyin p been dsu tniciedoeTitasternd for entio7iieal n d on the he msgistrates, and the summoum wam then withdrawn.  The Corporation of the City of Lavin() Cell. brated the fifty-ninth anniversary of the Queen's itimesaion to the throne by unveiling a marble statue of Her Majesty, which has been erected at a cost of several thousand pounds, in the quadrangle of the Royal Exchange. The ceremony was conductei by the Lord Mayor, who attended to full Civic dal*,  A