The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1880-04-24 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY THE WIFE OF A BIRKENHEAD POLICEMAN.  A SAD STORY.  ELIZABETH GRAHAM, a middle.aged woman, the wife of a member of the borough polie force, was, on Tuesday last, charged before Mr. Preston with having attempted to commit suicide by strangulation. The prisoner had to be assisted to the dock by Bridewell-keeper Jones. She presented an extremely wretched appearance. Her eye•balls were quite covered with blood, and shot, and her look was wild  and wandering. Elizabeth Tooth deposed that on Sunday morning last, at about seven o'clock, she observed a strange woman in the closet, situate in the yard. Witness said to her sister-in-law, there is a strange person in the closet. She immediately went and opened the closet door, when she saw the prisoner crouching down in a corner. She had her apron-strings tied tightly round her neck. Witness unloosened the coils of the apron-strings. The prisoner was quite black in the face and was bleeding from the month.  Magistrate : Was she sober P idid not smell any drink. The prisoner said nothing ;in fact, never spoke. Did not resist in any way. Superintendent Clarke said the prisoner was the wife of Poice-oonstable Graham. She had only come from Chester Castle, where she had been undergoing four months' imprisonment for larceny. She was a very drunken, disreputable women. Her husband had tried to live with her and keep her right time after time. When she got money she did nothing but procure drink. Her husband was a quiet, decent man, who set her every good example. She had very respectable friends in Ireland. The husband was prepared to allow her money to live on, but he could not think now of trying to live with her. She had been in the Borough Hospital since Sunday morning. Mr. Baker, from the Borough Hospital, deposed to her admission to the hospital on Sunday morning. She had marks on her neck, and was in a very bad condition. She had since been in a state of delirium tremens. She was, however, recovering now. _ . .  Prisoner Was I not ill besides from-hanging myself ? It was not drink, it was trouble that brought it on me. I was not drunk at the time. Forgive ma this time. Magistrate : You bring on your own tremble. Prisoner I was greatly knocked about since I I name here, Magistrate: What was the trouble? First when I came here my husband paid a woman to keep me. It was the trouble and the drink. If you forgive me this time I won't do it any more. Mr. Baker She has been talking like that in the hospital. She imagines she sees people attacking her. . _ .  To the Magistrate: My family livo in Kilkenny and, if you lot me go, go to them. Magistrate 111 remand you till Thursday.  remOnanhTd. etude y the prisoner was put forifsrd on Her conrliti m appeared to have bliproved and she talked with greater coherence than when previously before the court. Polico-ronstable ant:tarn, the husband of the prisoner, in answer to the stipendiary, said that he was not aware that the prisoner had been drinking lately. When he came out of prison he had provided an apartment and aupport for her, but she would not fall in with his arrangements. She went to a situation in Clatighton-road, but the first night she entered upon her duties she showed signs of madness and was obliged to leave. On the night preceding the attempt at suicide witness saw her late, and there was nothing more than usual in her demeanour. Witness had done everything he could for her and he was still prepared to do all he Have her friends in Ireland any way of taking care of her. Witness: No, sir. Her father has a stna'l pension from the Countess of Ormond.., and her mother ha, a pension from the Dean of Kilkenny. I sent her horns before, twice. Her parents arc in institutions and have no accommodation for her. Superintendent Clarke: When she was with her mother before she pled led everything. Prisoner : I did not, Mr. Clarke. I don't want to go to the workhouse. I will promise to keep from drink. The Magistrate: You are liable to be sent for trial for this attempt on your life. Ido not think I can let you go under such eircumetances. Superintendent Clarke : She is now in a very bad' state. I was talking with her this morning. The prisoner was then further remanded to Thursday next.