The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1826-09-20 (London, England)

THE BRITISH PRESS.  POLICF.  ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.  0 VIT.OItaLL.AVat-fie.l7lll;tty:laeitinigirl, about 17 years of ' me, whn pre hot, tame Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Was brought before Mr. Alderman A si.tv , yesterday, charged with having atterup:ed to drown herself in the Thames, on the preceding night. Upon being placed at the bar. she was recognised as one '• Of those pedestrian Paphians, who abound In decent London, when the day-light's o'er." Aldridge, a watchman of Britlewell Precinct, said he received an intimation, gamut 12 o'clock, that some female was about to commit suicide under the first arch on the north side of Blackfriars'-hridge, anti running to the spot with some other persons, lie fount? the prisoner undressing herself, and already nearly naked. The water was at that time beginning to run up. Ile desired her to dress herself; and as she showed but little alacrity in obeying him, another female volunteered her assistance, upon which the prisoner remarked, " It is of litile line, I shall soon have them off again." If she meant by this expression that she would not be defeated in her object of drowning herself in the Thames, site was disappointed, for she was in a few minutes securely lodged by him in Jr was remembered that some months ago she, was brought lip with time other wretched females, and that at the Ald,ratan's intercession her father promised to receive her into his family again. Upon being queatinned as to why she was again found pursuing her old path, she said she left bcr fither's house because he upbraided Ursa constantly with her past misconduct; she had been absent fruhi seven months, and had latterly been living in one of the low lodging horses in West-street, Smithfield ; and the immediate rause of the rash attempt she had made was, that Idle had failed in obtaining money to pay for a night's lodging. The watchman said site seemed to be rather under the influence of spirits when he found her. Although she hail the appearance of being nne of the most callous of her fraternity, the Alderman was wilting to believe, that disgthited heartily with the vicissitudes of her way of life, as she seemed to have been, this was the moment t turn her aside to better courses, and baring examined her at some length, as to her friends, Ike., in the private room, he determined to endeavour to procure her admission into the Female Penitentary, as presenting the only means of restoring her to society.  Bow-avnEET.—resterday, a tall old man of respectable appearance, haring a wooden kg, who refused to give any name, was charged with the folloWing fraud : Mrs. Frances Smith. a widow, keeping a little chandler's 'MO in Bluecrocs-street, Leicester-square, stated that her late husband had a brother who had been many years at sea, without being heard of, and who had lost a leg iii the King's service. On yesterday sennlght the prisoner 'retired into her shop, and introduced himself as that brother, and after condoling with her on his " brother's" death, and inquiring about the state of her affairs, got her to lend him all the money she had in the house (1/. as.), saying he had a great deal of money coming to him, and would not only repay her but assist her withany sum she might require. Subsequently Mrs. Smith discovered that tie was an impostor, and had him given into custody. The prisoner denied that lie called himself the deceased Mr. Smith's brother, but had merely said that he was an acquaintance. Ile was remanded.  Mr. Woods, the clerk, recognized the prisoner as an old acquaintance, andi nn referring to the books it was found that he was charged at this office six years ags with fraud, and again two yearn since with robbing kis lodgings. (The writer of this report also re. recollects seeMg him chr.rged at Guildhall nine years ago, with defrauding Captain Breretnn of 101., the gentleman who gave evideflect in the case of the Rev. Mr. Gould, at the Middlesex Sessions, on Monday.) William Edward., a dashing-looking young man, was charged on suspicion of haring been concerned in robbing several jewellers' shops of valuable articles. The evidence against the prisoner was at present merely pre. sumptive7 and he was remanded till this day, in the expectation that other testimony will be adduced. lie is well known to the