The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1916-12-06 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

SUICIDE.  "Kill Me—l want to Die"  A very sad story relating to a soldier's young wife was told the magistrates (Councillor James Merritt and Alderman A. H. Arkle) at the Borough Police Court on Monday. Mr. A. F. Moore proeecuted on behalf of the police. The prisoner, who appeared in the dock accompanied by a nurse and wrapped in a white shawl.•wae Martha leitchin, of 3, Cleveland-avenue, Birkenhead. She was charged with having attempted to commit suicide by cutting her throat with a razor whilst on the ferry boat "Bidston" about 1.10 p.m. on October 30th.  Eric Donefet, of Liverpool, a seaman on the "Bidston," said that at about 1.10 p.m. on the 30th October, in consequence of information 'received, he went to the ladies' lavatory, where he found prisoner sitting with her arms by her side, and a blood-stained razor in her right hand. She was bleeding profusely from a wound in her throat, and with the assistance of Miss Minnie Hunk, a certificated nurse, he rendered first-aid. All the time they were doing so prisoner was crying "Kill me I Kill me" Miss Minnie Hunt, who corroborated. Donafee's statement, said prisoner tried to ' tear open the wound with her hands, • P.C. Carine said he went with prisoner to the Borough Hospital in an ambulance, and on the way there she cried to him, "Officer, kill int, kin me. I want to die.' She was quits conscious, but gave no explanation for her action. Dr. Wilson, house surgeon at the Borough Hoepital, said that about 1.30 p.m.. on the 30th October he received prisoner into the hospital. She was suffering from the dffects of a self-inflicted wound, 44 inches long in front of the neck, that had been caused by a sharp instrument. The windpipe was cut through, and was out in other places. The oesophagus was half cut, and she was in a state of collapse. She asked him- to. kill her. He stitched the windpipe and the wounds in the neck, and she was now fully recovered. She did not show any signs of insanity, but at the same time she was not fit to look after her children. Asked if she had anything to say to the doctor she simply asked "It won't come undone again, will it, doctor?" Dr. Wilson said it would not. Martha McLeny, wife of John McLeny, 3. Cleveland-avenue, and second 'cousin of prisoner, said the latter had lived with her since the 10th July. On the 16th October her two little girls also came to live with witness. Prisoner was in receipt of .61 a week from the S. and S.F.A., and on the 30th October about 11.30 a.m. she left the house to go for it, said she would be back soon, and was in good spirits. In June she heard her husband had been missing since May 15th, and since then she had been at times depressed, yet at other times quite cheerful. Before the children came to live with witness prisoner said "I feel that I could go and get my two children and put myself and them in the dock." Witness told her if she said that again she would report her to the police. The Bench at this juncture thanked Miss Hunt for her valuable and voluntary services in this case.  Replying to the charge, prisoner ~aid "I took the rasor out of my uncle's drawer on Sunday, to cut my corns, and I broke a little niece of! it. I was afraid to put it back in the drawer. I then put it in my coat pocket and intended to replace it when I got my money, and when I went out I remember no more until I came tomn the hospital. I am very sorry. I am dig.. gusted with myself." Mr. Moore asked that the prisoner be remanded to the Chester Assizes, On the _  iOth July eibe—v-ias-rseiO-re Judge Ridey the Chester Assizes on a charge of trying to murder her baby by putting it in a dolly-tub. She war sentenced to one day's imprisonment. In face of her previous history and further evidence be thought the case should be tried at a higher court. The Bench accordingly committed her to the Assizes.