The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1908-02-29 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

THE BLACK STAIN  PITIFUL POLICE COURT STORY  GIRL'S DESPERATE ATTEMPT ON  HER LIFE.  Some sad and even shocking fi,ct4 ant disclosed in a ease which came beMre br. R. Owen Morris (chairman) and Alderman E. 0, Mason, at the Borough Police Court on Wednesday, when Agnes May MeCoombe, described as being 16 years of age, am charged with attempting to commit suicide by jumping from a window at 5, Alfred. road on the 6th inst. No. 8, Alfred-road is the Rescue Home, and on the evening or February 6th. McCoombe was taken to de Borough Hospital Buttering from somewhat serious injuries supposed to have laws caused by her throwing herself out of tine Of the windows at the back of the Boma The accused was a rather pale, quiet-looking girl, and did not seem to be any eider than the age stated. Miss Knott, superintendent of the Reim, Home, stated that the prisoner had leen an inmate of the Home for 17 monthi. About 8.90 p.M. on the 6th inst. witness and others were having supper, when they heard a noise like something falling, cud immediately afterwards one of the matrons came in with a note which another girl had found.  Tb. note, which was banded up to Us magistrates. read as follows  "'bear Superintendent,-'-I am very sorry I had to do it, but I feel too much trouble for you all. You are all too kind to re, and I love you all dearly. There is only the Good Lord knows.—May," ' Miss Knott went on to say that on read. mg the note she ran upstairs to see it ths prisoner was in her room but she id ot illy,' her anywhere, and m when she toaae downstairs again she was told the girl jul Wen found lying in the area outside. Va. ness found the prisoner lying uneonseicui in the yard. The yard was payed with youowe, and the prisoner appeared to h,is fallen fi can a stairego,e window which was on the third storey, and about 40 feet !Iva the ground. As quickly as possible the Prisoner was removed to the Borough 110 k pital, being still unconscious. In answer to the Magistrates' clerk •Nlr. Copeland) NW Knott said there had been aboolutely no complaint against the Ed previously nothing to arouse any suspi• Oion. They thought her to be somewhat feelaleunincied. however.  In answer to the Clerk aa to who,- ~be had to say in reference to bliss Knit; dews prisoner said: I don't renimixl anything about it. Zn an.swer to further questions by the Clark, Miss Knott said the Firl would I. r year. old in May Dent. She beiiev,d that was her correct aye. She %Val "re 4. Cued" when she went into the Home. L., inn Leen fallowing a bad life, bud she lot had two children. _  --15r„—litti.;:eir,--117ho received the girl ;.to the Borough Hospital, said she was siliconSoigne when brought in, and she had a wound on the back of her head, and iniul to one of the hips. She had stated in lle hospital that she was "tired of life. She several time said that to one of the ward deters. In ansvrer to the Clerk. witte=4 said he did not think the girl was eompos oientis. She believed she was going to Canada, where she had a brother. The Clerk (to the prisoner): What hal made you "tired of your life"? Prisoner (smiling slightly): I am isire ir, I don't know. The Clerk : You have been in the Flom* :bout PI months? Prisoner (speaking quite rationally): res. They were all very kind to me. but could not stay there. The Clerk: Why? Prisoner did not answer fur a iew Lie manta, and then she said, "Well, I couldn't." Further questioned. she said she had "a bad head" all the time. It was led now. She told h hteh had gbore brother goinge: iC o e Canada, so hbsafidas (this was thought to be imagination). At this point a charge of being of 5.0' sound mind Was added. Dr. Burrell expressed the opinion that the prisoner was not mentally responsible for her actions. He thought, however. that she was likely to recover in time. The prieoner wa* then remanded to as oworkhaset us fortnightutiformeallyri auiinlnedorder that ho m  m ii