Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1900-04-06 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH THE ATTEMPTED MURDER AND AND THE TWELVE SUICIDE AT BRIERTIELD. I O'CLOCK MOVEMENT.  PRISONER BEFORE THE MAGLSTRATES. COMMITTED TO THE ASSIZES A PITIFUL CASE. At the Colne Police Court, on Friday morning, before Mr. Ecroyd and Mr. J. Smith, Ellen Williamson, cardroom operative, of I Briercliffe-road, Burnley, was charged with attempting to murder her child, Jane Williamson, at Brierfield, on the 27th March, by throwing her into the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, and she was further charged with attempting to commit suicide at the same time and place.—Prisoner, who seemed to be in an exceedingly weak condition, was accommodated with a seat in the body of the court. Jane Birtwistle, wife of Hinton Birtwistle, 38, Todmorden-road, Burnley, said prisoner , was her daughter. She was unmarried, but she had an illegitimate child living with her. It was five years of age, and as named Jane Williamson. The child attended the St. Andrew's School, Burnley, and prisoner, who was cardroom hand, had not. worked for two years, owing to ill health. Dr. Dean said she was suffering from nervous debility in an aggravated form, but that was the only time she had been seen by a doctor. She had been ailing for the past two years. She remembered prisoner leaving the house on Tuesday morning about 945 a.m. She was alone when she left the house, the child having gone to the school in the morning. She was wearing a shawl when se left the house, which belonged to witness. She did not see her again until Thursday. By Mr. Pilgrim: Have you beard her threaten her life 9—Well, she has said some curious things. Mr. Pilgrim: Well, what have you heard her saying? Witness: Well, she has said she wished she could lay down and die, and I have heard tell of her saying she wished she were dead. She has talked some strange talk for a long time, but she has been worse this last fortnight. Mr. Pilgrim: Did you ever think it necessary to take precautions? Witness: I am only sorry I did not do so long since. I did not because I did not like. Mary Morris, 8, Colbran-street, Burnley, schoolmistress at the St. Andrew's School, Burnley, said someone like the prisoner came to the school about 10-15 on Tuesday, and asked to take away the little girl, who was called M. Birtwistle. She let her go, the woman saying she wanted to find a new home for the child, and that she would return in a quarter of an hour. She had not seen prisoner since, but on the Tuesday evening she called at Mrs. Birtwistle's house and saw the child, who was then apparently all right. So far as she knew she had not seen prisoner before. Prisoner was in great distress at the time, crying bitterly, but she did not state where she was going. She talked intelligently. Elizabeth Annie Hartley, winder, wife of John Hartley, 20, Albion-street, Brierfield, said on Tuesday morning she saw prisoner about half-past eleven, on the canal bank, and a child • was walking by her side. She first saw prisoner on the bank sat down. She lost sight of them, but about a quarter of an hour later she saw the child in the water, prisoner at the time being on the bank. She did not see how the child got into the water. Witness screamed, and another winder ran into the cellar, told a man there, and he immediately went out to the assistance of the parties. She saw prisoner in the water after she had given the alarm, but she could not say how she got there. She subsequently saw prisoner after she had been pulled out of the water, and the child, which the winding master carried, appeared to be quite conscious. Martin Darcy, warehouseman at Veevers' mill, Brierfield, living at 15, Richard-street, ' said on Tuesday morning, about a quarter to twelve, he heard a winder screaming, and from what she said be rushed to the canal .bank. He had to rush through the yard and through a field, because at this point there was a bend in the canal. He then saw two heads in the centre of tre canal, the child clinging to its mother's breast. They were out or depth, for he could not "bottom it," and had to swim. He took his cardigan jacket off, and swam to the assistance of the parties. The child was shouting. but the woman was very quiet. He brought both out togteher, the woman never sneaking until she got on the canal bank. For some time prisoner was unconscious, and witness was about to go in the water a second time as the crowd said there was another child in the water, when prisoner recovered and said there was no one else in. Afterwards she told witness that she wished he had left her in. He knew prisoner, who used to work near to him at Messrs. Tunstills. By Inspector McLean: When the woman was in the water he did not see her make any effort to save either herself or the child. He afterwards saw a shawl a few yards away, to which a note was attached, which read as follows :—" My last request is that my brother and Herbert Smith will attend my funeral, the latter so as to help to lower me." Dr. William Bird, surgeon, practicing at Brierfield, said he saw prisoner at a house in Thomas-street, about twenty minutes to one on Tuesday. She was weeping very bitterly, and was greatly excited, and on examination he suggested that she should be removed to the infirmary. There was evidence she was suffering trom the immersion, her temperature beinl, 101. The child was all right. P.C. Lee deposed to receiving prisoner into custody at 2, Thomas-street, at 2-30 p.m. He took prisoner to the Burnley Hospital in a cab. He next saw her at the Nelson Police Station on Wednesday, and there charged her with attempting to murder her child, Jane Williamson, aged five years, by throwing her into the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, about 12 noon, the 27th inst. She made no reply. He received the shawl and note from a man named Clegg. He also charged her with attempting to commit suicide at the same time and place, but she made no reply. Mr. Pilgrim, the magistrates' Clerk, advised prisoner not to say anything, and she was committed for trial to the Manchester Assizes. '