A GIRL’S SAD STORY.

New Zealand Mail, 21 February 1901, Page 13

A GIRL’S SAD STORY.

FROM THEFT TO ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. PUBLIC COMP A SSION. At Willesden Police Court, London, the other day, a girl, who said she was Helen McKenzie (17), a linen worker of Perth,- was charged on remand with attempting to commit suicide. A lady, w-ho saw the girl approach the Welsh Harp Lake, Hendon, and deliberately leap into the water, rushed down stairs, informed George Dry, who was employed in her stable, and they both rushed to the water. Dry gallantly jumped into the water, brought the girl to the surface, and brought her out. She was restored, taken to the lady’s house, and her clothes dried. She told a sad story, which she repeated afterwards to Police Sergeant Cox, to the effect that her mother was dead, and her stepmother had given her £2, packed her off to Londc;>, and told her she did not wish to see her any more. She paid £1 16s 9d for her fare, and the balance, except some coppers, she spent in biscuits. She tnought she could get a situation in London as a servant, but found she Li'iio not be booked at a registry office as she was not provided with a written char i .-tor. She wandered about and wa- so wretched that she threw herself ;r>to the water. Mrs Baker, Avife of Mr Allen Baker, L.C.C., took compassion on the and was allowed to take her to her home while inquiries were made. Inspector Smith said he had received a report from the Chief-Constable of Perth, fhom which it appeared pris-

oner’s story was false, and she now said her name was Helen McKenzie Nicholl, and lately resided with her parents at Kirriemuir. She also confessed to a larceny committed in Scotland, and he asked for a further remand. Mr Gough, the Court missionary, said he had made further inquiries, and believed her father Ava.s a shoemaker at Kirriemuir, and her mother was alive. She went to a .situation on November 30 at the Forfar Infirmary, and on the 10t~i inst. took £2 from the pocket of a. coat there. She went to Perth, staj'ed there two or three hours, bought some sweets, and came by train to Easton. When she got out and wandered about the neighbourhood of Easton she was so disappointed, having expected to find London such a pleasant place, that she asked her way to the country. She found her way to Hendon, no doubt up the Edgeware Road. One brother was at Aberdeen, and another a bank clerk at Cape Town. Her sisters were all in Scotland. This was mainly based on information given by tbe girl herself. He had received over 70 letters, containing otters of situations from versons whp read of the case in the napers.