QSR1857/3/5/13

Depositions of George Hare, carver of Clifton and Jesse Walker, police constable of Arlsey. In the case of Mary Crouch accused of throwing herself into a stream with intent and malice aforethought to kill, murder and drown herself.

16 June 1857

From: 1857 To: 1857

George Hare: On 15 June about 8pm he and Henry Ashwell were walking along near the stream which divides the parishes of Henlow and Langford. He heard a noise like a person groaning. He looked and saw some person struggling in the water about 60 yards off. He called to Ashwell and they both went and saw a woman in the water lying quite still as if she were dead. They both went into the water and pulled her out and laid her on the bank. He thought she was dead but after about 5 minutes she began to move and he recognized her as Mary Crouch. When they pulled her out he observed a string around her neck and another string tied round her legs, just above her knees. As soon as she had recovered sufficiently to speak he asked her how she had come to do it. She said that her troubles caused her and that he was no friend of hers for rescuing her. They took her to the Police Officer and gave her into custody. PC Jesse Walker: on 15 June about 8.30pm the prisoner was brought to his house and given into his custody on the charge of attempting to drown herself. He took her to the station at Biggleswade. On the way she told him her troubles had led her to drown herself. She was very sorry she had not succeeded as for then she would have been out of the troubles of this world. Statement of the accused: she was very sorry she did it. It was troubles that caused her to do it.

item

Crouch, Mary,
Hare, George,
Walker, Jesse,
Ashwell, Henry

HENLOW, CLIFTON, ARLESEY, suicide, drowning, carver