Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1887-12-24 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

STRANGE SUICIDE IN WEARDALE.  EXTRAORDINARY CONFESSION OF .MURDER.  An inquest was held on Wednesday afternoon at the Workhouse, Stanhope, before Mr Coroner Dean. touching the death of Mary Ann Wallace (29), a married woman, belonging to Quarry —Mouse, near St. John's Chapel, who died on Sunday from self-inflicted injuries on the 24th ofN ovember. Mr Superintendent Riddle watched the case on behalf of the police.—Thos. Wallace, the husband of the deceased, examined, said that on the 22nd of November he left home to go to Rookhope. The deceased, who was poorly when -heJeft, said, she was.geing to.visit a sister and an aunt. On returning to his home on the Friday he found that his wife bad cut her throat. was removed to the Workhouse on the 10th of the present month, and died on Sunday morning. Being questioned as to their family relations he said that he and his _wife had always lived happily, and.he had never.heard her threaten to commit suicide.—John Wm. Jackson (13), of : Hartehope Burn Chapel, said that soon after 7 ~o'biock on the morning of Nov. 24th, he was going along Mr Dawson's meadows at that place, when he saw • the deceased lying in the beige, with .blood _oozing from her throat. She bad her hands up to her throat, but she .dicluot speak, nor did he see any knife or weapon of any kind tying on the grass. lie at once gave an alarm, and gave information to the police.— Margaret Ann Wilkinson. of St. John's Chapel, _unmarried, said. the deceased Came to her father's house on. the 23rd ult., and slept in the same bed it's the witness. She appeared to be in the best of. health and spirits. About ix o'cloek oil. the Morning of the 24th the deceased complained of internal rains, and got aut-sf bed. Witness-saw- her no more until she was brought in with her throat cut. The unfortunate-woman was afterwards questioned by witness and others as to what made her commit the rash act, when she replied: "I don't know what made me do it."—Two knives were here produced , —one a bread knife and the other a clasp knife— both of which were much stained with blood, and which the witness identified as her father's property.—Cross-examined by Superintendent Liddle : Did the deceased say anything to you, or any-of the family in your hearing, about a child she lost?—Wituess : Yes. She said she had poisoned her child.—Was that after she had cat her throat ?—Yes.—Superintendent Liddle (to the Court) : It was talked of about the place, and it is as well that it should be mentioned here, though I do not think there is anything in it.— Sergeant George spoke to procuring medical assistance for deceased after being advised of the attempt on her life, and added that the woman seemed to be wandering in her mind, for sometimes when witness saw her she talked about having poisoned a child, and at other times she denied it.—Dr. Robinson, of Rookhope, deposed that deceased's death resulted from inflammation of the lungs, brought on by selfinflicted wounds--The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, with , the addendum that the deceased committed the , rash act whilst in a state of temporary insanity.  THE NEW FAMILY MATCH SAFE fort Bryant and May Patent gaiety Matches supplied a want that, has long been felt, and will be adopted at once by all careful housekeepers. It is very ornamental. and contains three dozen bones of Bryan. land May's Patent Safety Matches, and three of the metal match eases, and can be obtained from any grocer or oilman. tilled and fitted complete, for 256(1. It is strong and damp proof, and should be found in % scary store