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BLACK SEA - SEVEN ISLANDS POND
AMELIA MCDOUGAL PRINGLE?
Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser - Saturday 14 February 1846
WANDSWORTH
MONDAY - ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
Amelia M'Dougal Pringle, a young woman about twenty-eight years of age, was brought up again for examination upon a charge of attempting eelf destruction, by throwing herself into the Seven Islands Pond, Wandsworth-common. On the morning of the 15th of January the defendant was found floating in the above mentioned pond, and taken out by some labourers on the South Western Railway, and conveyed in an apparently dead state to the Wandsworth Union, where, however, the judicious treatment of the master and matron restored her to life.
On the 27th ult. she was brought before Mr. Clive, and her answer to the charge was, that she had been three years in the service of Mr. Rankin, on the Common; that about four months since she left to marry a plasterer, who deceived - her in his circumstances, and having expended what money she had, and pawned her clothes, she determined upon destroying herself. She also accused her husband of having tried to persuade her to cut her throat by giving her an open razor, and bidding her to kneel down and do it. She -has remanded, that the lady of the furnished room she and her husband had occupied, might attend a end speak to the husband's conduct.
On Monday week Elizabeth Singer, of 51, Praed-street, Paddington, proved d that the defendant had lodged at her house for three months, during which time she had thrice attempted to destroy herself; once with poison, the next time with a rope, and the last time with a razor; she did not consider that the husband was to blame, he gave her nearly all his wages when in work. She considered defendant of a very desponding nature.
Other witnesses were called and proved that prior to the defendant's marriage, she had been of a happy and cheerful disposition. The husband said he would do his best to support her, and Mr. Rankin authorized police constable Daley, 127 V, to state that he would take her back into his service if the husband was not permitted to come near her.
The defendant was again remanded for the attendance of the medical officer of the union to speak to her state of mind, Dr. Connor stated that the defendant was, although labouring under no delusion, was decidedly depressed in mind, and he considered naturally inclined to melancholy.
Constable Daley said that Mr. Rankin was io still desirous to receive the defendant back into his servies; and she having expressed her wish to return, Mr. Clive, after addressing the defendant in the most feeling manner, and pointing out to her the enormity of her offence, said he would return her into the hands of a good master, and trusted that she would regain her cheerfulness.
T>he defendant was then discharged.
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