Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1900-03-30 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

CUN.ON PLASTERS.  SENSATIONAL AFFAIR AT  BRIERFIELD. ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER. AND SUICIDE. A PLUCKY RESCUE.  The inhabitants of the usually quiescent township of Brierfield were greatly excited on Tuesday afternoon, when a report was circulated that these had been an attempted murder and suicide in their midst. At first the gossip was treated with a certain amount of incredulity, but after awhile the rumour became an acknowledged fact, that some affair, tragic in its character, had been perpetrated. The facts of the case seam to suggest that there was a deliberate attempt at murder and suicide by a young unmarried woman named Ellen Williamson, ago 25, living with her parents at 138, Cobden-street, off Briercliffe-road, Burnley. It appears that the woman had been in a delicate state of health for some time, and she had been an inmate of the Cheadle Hospital and Southport Convalescent Home, suffering from nervous debility. About five years ago an illegitimate daughter was born to her, and repeatedly since that time she has been in a despondent state of mind. Two years since she had a serious illness, and since that time she had been wholly supported by her parents. Latterly she has been very much depressed, and on Tuesday morning she left home shortly before ten o'clock. She went direct to St. Andrew's school, where her daughter Maud was, and on some plausible pretext took her away from her lessons. From here it is supposed she went direct to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal bank, for the next place anyone appears to have seen the parties was about 300 yards from Messrs. Veevers' Mill, at Brierfiehi, just above Hedge's farm. A woman named Mrs. Hartley, who lives at 18, Albion-street, Brierfield, and is employed at Messrs. Veevers' Mill, first saw the woman through the window, and noticing her suspicious manner, she watched her. It should be stated that at this point of the canal, the towing path is practically free from observation, and had it not bean for Mrs. Hartley looking out at an opportune time, there is scarcely any doubt but that the ' consequences would have been of a very tragic character indeed. Suddenly the woman, without the slightest hesitancy, threw the child into the water, and then she herself jumped in. Mrs. Hartley, who saw the occurrence, gave a shriek, and after acquainting those about her with the cirounastancesi a number of weavers rushed speedily -bewares the spot. Foremost amongst these was a weaver named Martin Darcy, and as soon as the figures of the two unfortunates were seen on the surface, he plunged in and pluckily rescued both mother and child. Restoratives were speedily applied, and after a little time it became apparent that the child was little the worse for the immersion. The mother, however, was very weak, and she was seen by Dr. Bird, who ordered her removal to the Burnley Hospital. She was taken there in a cab by P.C. Lee. The child was asked if she knew her mother, and she replied "Yes, that's my mammy. But I don't want to go to her, she threw me into the canal." The woman's shawl was subsequently found on the canal bank, and a note which was attached 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." Darcy was subsequently interviewed, and said he had had a long way to run and three hedges to jump before he got cpposite the place where the two were. The child was clinging to the mother, and he seized hold of the latter and swam to the towing path. The water at the place was about eight feet deep. Mrs. Williamson, the: girl's mother, stated that her daughter was very fond of the child, but her moods varied very much. Sometimes she would be very affectionate, and at other times entirely the opposite. Her mind had been unsettled ever sine() she was a girl of 1:5 but the change had been so slow as to be almost imperceptable.  rt: 7/ 147 A tr? NED \'‘. . When ycni hz•Je rtn ACHE \ or a