Blandford Weekly News. — 1889-07-27 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER BY A MOTHER. Mary Emma Wrighton, aged 37, a married woman, was charged at Bow-street Police-court on Monday with attempting to murder her two children and with attempting to commit suicide.—George Gregory said that on Wednesday he was on duty on the Victoria Embankment, near the Westminster pier, when his attention was attracted by somethingthrown over the parapet.—Mr. Vaughan (the magistrate): By whom?—Witness : A woman. I turned round and saw the prisoner take a child and climb on the parapet. She let the child fall into the water and threw herself in after it. I gave the alarm by whistling. On arriving at the pier I saw three bodies floating. A strong tide flowing, they were carried towards the pier. I leaned down, and by means of a boathook I caught hold of the younger child. The other child and the prisoner were also saved with the assistance of Mr. Jones. The woman was unconscious, and was taken to the hospital. The children did not appear to be much the worse for their immersion. There were two other children with the prisoner.—Mr. Vaughan said he was glad to have the opportunity of commending the constable for the way in which he had acted.—Mr. Douglas, the pier-master, deposed to rescuing the woman by means of a boat. She said something about her poor head and her children. Dr. Hunt, of Westminster Hospital, deposed to the prisoner being brought to the hospital with the children. She was unconscious. After three or four h. ours the prisoner came round. She appeared very depressed, and was sober. She complained of a pain in her head. She said that she went out to get something for dinner. Her head ached very much, and she heard thunder. After that she remembered no more. She was now perfectly rational He did not think she was responsible for her actions. Since the defendant had been in the hospital she had been visited by her husband, and they appeared to be on very affectionateterins.—The prisoner was remanded until Friday, Dr. Hunt expressing his willingness to readmit her to the hospital.  The value has been sworn at £60,054 of the personal estate of the late Mr. Clement Francis Wedgwood, of Etruria and Barlaston, Staffordshire, manufacturer of earthenware, who died in January. Another grave scandal connected with the administration of justice in Upper Burnish has been recently checked. Instructions have been given that henceforward no judicial officer is to try dacoits who have been pursued by him. The Mandalay Herald states that the troops at Memo are suffering severely from fever, 17 per cent, of the Hampshire Regimentand 2:-. per cent. of the 17th Bengal Infantry being in hospital. The Spanish Minister of War has been actively pushing forward the fortifications on the Pyrennean frontier, where Spain seems to be preparing at great expense works sufficient not only to protect her territory against French invasions, but also to serve as a basis for hostile demonstrations should they be necessary. The forts near Irun and Pampeluna have recently been armed with heavy modem guns. Chief Baron Palle. has delivered judgment in Dublin on Mr. Healy's application for a •, 1-.6 of Limns corpus on behalf of Mr. Conybeare, : !.P., ts*:‘ ' object of quashing Judge Webb's de- .1011 0.. • .1. confirming the magistrates' conviction !r oon ,pir .4. The point raised by Mr. Healy was that Mr. Harrison, named as conspiring with Mr. Conybeare, having been acquitted, he could not be convicted of conspiring with persons unknown. The Chief Baron refused the application.