"NO FLOWERS ON MY GRAVE."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7587, 22 December 1902, Page 2

"NO FLOWERS ON MY GRAVE."

A GIRL OF SIXTEEN TIRED OF LIFE. A girl of sixteen, named Kate Groves, described as a step-cleaner, of Barking, England, was charged at the Stratford Police Court recently w t ith attempting to commit suicide. The girl complained at the Barking police station, that her mother had assaulted her, and a constable went to the house with her. While he was there the girl left the house, and the officer was subsequently called to tha marshes, where !be found her lying in the water. The constable pulled her out, and she implored 3iim to leave her alone, saying, "I want to die." A knife was found in. her pocket, with a letter addressed to " My dearest father, mother and 'brothers." In the letter she complained that she had been treated unjustly at home because she could not get work, adding that she had "bad enough of it," and if she was found in the water, or with her throat cut, they would know the cause. The letter continued : " I wish to have no flowers on my grave, and I hope you will let my companions see me in my coffin, and you will follow me." It concluded; "Why should we weep when she is free from sickness and from blood? Good-bye." Asked by the magistrate if she was sorry for what she had done, the girl replied : " No, I am not." She was remanded in custody for a week to "think over it."