The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1892-07-30 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

PRISONER SENT FOR TRIAL. the effects of a dose of carbonic acid, admioistered, it is supposed, by herself. As to what led the At the Liverpool Police Court on Tuesday, before deceased to commit the rash act, nothing is known, Mr. Stewart, stipendiary magistrates, John R. but it is stated that she had beeu in ill-health for Roberts, of Birkenhead, lately assistant secretary for some time, and had been depressed in spirits. the National amalgamated Union of Dock Labourers On Tuesday Mr. H. °button, district coroner, bald of Great Britain and Ireland, was charged with an inquiry at the Castle Hotel into the aironmstmmee embezzling £4O belonging to the union. Mr. Marsh, of %%re case. Er. John Evans was tbe foreman of who prosecuted, said the pritoner was charged with ,°!..1 Y. william 'Frederick Bridden, husband of the stealicg £4O belonging to the Dock 'Labourers' damaged, was the first witness. He *wad that she Union. He thought the amount, however, we* about was 39 yams of age, and die had been in • very weak £lOO. It was alleged that the prisoner got cheques state of health for some time, caused through her nog. signed by those who had authority to sign them Mating her food, and her having been given to intern. Re would ark his worship to remand the case for perste habits. She did not get the drink in the hoes* the purpose of getticg evidence. When arrested but would send out for it. That had been going on the prisouer had nothing to say.—Mr. Stewart for about twelve months. He was married about. six remanded the ease till Thursday.—The prisoner ywe"adrkitshaeogrlhioa. last since. She was very much deBamheehsande e a been under medical weeenrmedicsaboutl about on. asked to be allowed out on hail.—Mr. Marsh said an o the primoner had abscondeei.—Mr. Stewart said he pressed at times and in a very low state. He could would take bail in two sureties of £5O each, and the not my that she had ever threatened to do away with prisoner's surety in £lOO. herself, bet when there was a case of sudden death On Thursday, Mr. J. Lynskey conducted the he had heard her remark that she wished it had been prosecution, bat prisoner was undefended, though he hermit. She had no family, but he had one boy by stated that he had expected • solicitor would have • former wife. He did not know the deceased had been engaged by his friends. Mr. Lyn‘dree said be any carbolic acid in the house. He did not know of was willing to have the ease adjourned that prisoner anything that could have driven her to intemperance. might be represented legally, but his worship ,aid On Saturday he was down in the bar, and he thought the case would have to go for trial, and there was no the deceased was lying down upstairs taking a rest. reason to stay the proceedings. The deceased's sister-in-law was staying with them, Mr. Lynskey then stated that the prisoner was and when sl. e came in from a walk she went upstairs assistant secretary to the National Union of Dock She came down immediately afterwards, and said Labourers in Great Britain and Ireland, and was ulttnerehtheaww.asinvearystiallwanodf vcoonLitiming..aWd hgeuniteheunwoonent. appointed in January, 1891. Prisoner also sated lie • trustee, that wee,thet the money of the Union was e• mous. Dr. Connell and Dr, Macdonald were called lodged in the Bank of Liverpool in the names of five in, but they could do nothing for her, and she died trustees, of whom prisoner was one. On the 28th at two o'clock oa Sunday .morning. A bottle conJune last prisoner wrote to one of the trustees, Mr. taining carbolic acid and • glass were on the dressing Tobin, who happened lobe in London, eaclosing two table alongside the deceased when he went upstairs. blank cheques. Prisoner stated in the letter that he She had used carbolic acid previously for disinfecting wanted money to pay rent, &c, and also to settle purposes. accounts to the end of the year, which was the 30th Harry Bridden, aged 11 years, said his stepmother Jane. Mr. Tobin did not send on the obeqsee by sent him for a bottle of ~beim said eboui • fanreturn of post, and on the 30th June he reoeired • night ago. Elbe told him that if the druggist asked telegram from Mr. Roberts but sent in the name of him what it wee for Its was to say it was for kiting Mr. McHugh, who was general secretary to the vermin. He paid Is. for the bottle. Union. The cheques at this time had been returned The Foreman. --Since it is so strong a poison. by Mr. Tobin te the prisoner, who would receive should there not be a limit to the supply? them on the lit July. On that day the cheques The Coroner.—That can only be done by Ad of were forwarded to Mr. Wright, another &mime. by Parliament, and it is a thing so commonly in see messenger, asking Mr. Wright to sign them and that such an Act would be very inoonvenieut to the saying also they were for the settlement of rent and public, who use carbolic very extensively as • disinaccounts. The two cheques were signed in blank by ectant. I must say, however, it would be very Mr. Wright and returneo to the prisoner. Prisoner satisfactory and very right and proper that when a went to the bank and cashed one cheque on the let , youth or a little girl:: as if often the case, is sent for July and another on the 6th J 2. On the 7i° July it, that a second party should be with thin; that prisoner came bask to the o tie, but disappeared would be seine ohenk. It must be remembered, of that afternoon and was not seen sinus until he was course, that if • person is bent on eelf-destrustion, it arrested. There lied been no payment made by him, is very difficult to prevent them Gem ing out their and he overdrew the account at the bank, which he '"Witness (resuming) said his mother used to take a intentions. had no authority and no right to do. Prisoner had '' authority to make payments in the absence of Mr. good deal of drink: it was gin she generally took, McHugh, and to account for the same in the books A verdict of "Suicide while temporarily insane" which he kept himself. Primmer ought to hare was recorded. /mimed the payments in the cash book, but there wee not • single entry since the 20th May last. Altogether, he said, there appeared to be defalcations to the extent of £lO7, but the charge at present only concerned the last