The Era — Sunday 18 January 1846

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ATTEMPTED SUICIDE ON WANDSWORTH COMMON

On Thursday morning, about half-past seven o'clock, William Marsh, a basket-maker, living in Garrat-lane, Wandsworth, was crossing the common near to a large and deep piece of water called the Black Sea, when he heard several distinct groans, and on looking towards the pond he saw a woman floating on the water. He called to some laborers who were at work on the South-Western Railway line, which is contiguous to the spot, and one of them, named William Spencer, at the risk of his life, jumped into the water, and with the assistance of his comrades got her out.

Life was, to all appearance, extinct, but the men, aided by police constable Dempsey, hurried her to the Wandsworth Union, and in less than two minutes the unfortunate creature was placed between hot blankets, but it was not until more than an hour had expired that circulation was in part restored, and nearly another hour before she became conscious.

After the poor woman had become sensible, police constable Daley questioned her, and ascertained that her name is Amelia M'Dougal Pringle; that she is the wife of a plasterer, who is working at Kensington, was in her twenty-ninth year, and that she had only been married four months. She said she was very wretched and did not wish to live.

It was afterwards ascertained that she had called upon an old fellow-servant, who is married to a man named Cartwright, living in Love-lane, Wandsworth, and that she remained there until half past ten o'clock on Wednesday night, when Cartwright accompanied her to the foot of Battersea-bridge, and there left her, understanding she was going to her sister's at Islington.

There was no money or property of any description found upon her, and it is probable that not having any means to pay the toll, she wandered back to Wandsworth-common, where she had formerly been in service, and at last driven to madness she threw herself into the water. She is still in a very weak state, but when sufficiently recovered will be brought before the sitting magistrate at Wandsworth Police court.

[BNA: Link]

I have spent quite a time trying to find her in Ancestry — but absolutely no luck

From the article:

born c.1817

married late 1845

Was McDougal her maiden name?

Pringle?

I have found Pringles in Islington [where her sister lived]

See another entry for info about here former emplyrer — “Mr Rankin” — presumably John Ranking (father of Augustus Ranking)

There is a Cartwright family fitting the bill at Point Pleasant in 1841, and Love Lane in 1861

Follow up?

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Morning Advertiser — Tuesday 03 February 1846

[NEEDS EDIT]

(Click on image to enlarge)

WANDSWORTH

There were three cases at this Court of robbing families. In two of them the servants were the promoters of the felony; in the third, the servant was the actual depredator.

The first case was that of Ann Ford, a woman who, an several occasions, has obtained alms at this Court, upon the pretence of being poor and deserving object of relief.

In this case the constable Webb, met the prisoner Wandsworth-common, about half-past four o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and found upon her nearly four pounds of flour, and sufficient of cooked victuals and bread to keep a tolerably large family for week. Tho prisoner admitted she had obtained the provisions from Durham-house, a scholastic establishment on Wandsworth-common, and added that she had given 8d. [?] worth of lace for the flour to one of servants. Mr Chve remanded the prisoner until Wednesday next.

[BNA: Morning Advertiser — Tuesday 03 February 1846 ]

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