Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1879-05-09 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE.  - - WEDNESDAY: Bafore the Mayor (Mr. A. Pope) and Messrs. M. Devenish, R. Davis, and G. J. G. Gregory. Hizaboth Gilbert came up charged with an attempt at suicige, by drinking paraffin oil. She was limp ,ind querulous, and dropped, palpitating, into a chair, where, with partly dishevelled hair, she was narrowly regarded by a row or twa of damsels, and about half-a-dozen young fellows.  The magistrates, beine disturbed by persons coming into the Court, directed that the door nearest the Banc should he clam& awl visit ire were sent to the other end, the result being that several gentlemen wero obliged to come in at the lower door, before being accommodated with seats around the clerk's table,  The little girl witness listened attentively to Mr. Henry Symonds's distinct reading of her evidence, and a faint smile crossed her face as the tale of William Weakley's remark that he liked somebody better than Elizabeth was read, while the young women in Court were visibly amused. Rode Strong, a witness even smaller than the last, and only 10, told—She het me a shilling she'd he dead before next morning, and I said " All right."—M.r. Symonds brought her back to times and places by eliciting she lived at home with her parents, and on the 10th, about nine, was at hociiii with her sister, prisoner being also there. Vizabeili said she felt very bad, and she'd be dead by the morning. She then went upstairs, and said she should go to bed, and witness remained b3low, but did not see anything in her hand, nor diii she see the cup. Witness s sister, Rix atieth Time, went upstairs, and witmes with her, and about five min ites returned, and took some rua,ches back with her. When witness got upstairs, the f ,und prisoner in bed in her room: a cup was in the window, and prisoner re ached over to the window-sill for the cup prialuc3,l (an erdinary white tea-cup, with no handle), drank the contents, iind said "how ! haw ! it's paraffin ; now I've done it." By the Mayor: She appeared to be in pain aft irwards, but did not holloa out. Her sister wadi "Twits silliness of you, Bess, to do that." It did not seem to take away her breath in any way. Mrs. Page, who ledges with hr, came, went to her, aud asked what she did it far, strain prisoner, who was in bed, made no answer, but took her ley the throat. Pris iner was shaken up by Mr. Day, but did not rouse herself, or ask any questions. Mrs. Esther Page, wife of driver John Page, R.H.A., lodges in the house with prisoner, and on the Vdth was called from her bed about nine, to go into the prisoner's room, left her husband, found prisoner in bed, and sent the little girl to her mother. Prisoner's mouth was half open, and smoke coming from her mouth, just as if from a are, and it smelt of paraffin. Asked what she had done it for, when prisoner tonic her by the throat, and, as well as she could speak, a .id, in an excited state, that her throat was burning. Witness did not think she was right, was frightened, and ran downstairs till she could get sotueoue to go with her, as prisoner seemed to be out of her mind, and witness was afraid she'd do her an injury. Her husband took the cup, which had some tugar at the bottom. Witness tent for medical advice, went back and remained with her till the police removed her. On Tuesday morning, the day after, witness asked her what she did it for when prisoner replied "Because of William." Witness sail "How could it be because of hira 1 Ile has only been in the house a month." He was no acq.mintance whatever. Witness said paraffin wouldn't do it, and prisoner replied "she'd do it again, and 'twould only cost her a penny. Previous to this she had threatened to do something to herself; there was something very heavy in her mind that she would not tell a single &ail. Cross-examined: She said so before William Weakley came to the house and she was always complaining of her head. . .  la answer to the Mayor, Supt. Coward said prisoner stayed at home, end kept house for her father, and when he was summoned for rates she appeared for him. Witness did n)t believe it was on Wiliiam Weakley's account that she did this, but that ehe was not right in her mind, she always couplained of her head. Prisoner, on being asked by the serse int if she hat any question to a-k, uttered some high-pitched complaining sounds, and let her head fall OR one side as belore. Mr. Day's depo.ition was read to hi in, and heharl nothing t) add. He had not analysed anything, as the vomit was so highly caarged with paraffin, and the cup and bottle smelt of the same. He did not believe the effects of the paraffin were all gone out of the brain. Sergeant, Mitchell was called in on the 29.1 April, and went to the prisoner's house, ant got from Mrs. Page the cup prolticed, which smelt of paraffin. Witness was afterwards put in charge of her, and she renuaiiied sullen for home,, and then would laugh and talk, and call for her tath.r and William. Tilt' brother Gilbert, was called, but not sworn, and in answer to the Mayor said he Rot a job where he could, butchering and such like.—(Sept. Coward sail he hail been in the Army R ~erve). Its wanted to kit .w Irby Mrs. Page hail not to d him hefore that his sister had threatened to do away w th hers. If 1 The inasiatrates deelin. d to so into that question. The brother sal I lie believed the young man had been very int elate with MS sister, and had promised her marrisg-i, an •I lie believed this affair was on the young man's account : tut he admitted he thought his sister flat rivht in her hid. Toe iii,i4istrates resolved to commit the prisoner for Vial, and in answer to them prisoner moaned out—“l did not tell Oeml will kill myself." Committed for trial.