We love pairing a vintage postcard with a photograph taken in the same spot today. Alongside the postcards, we feature a newspaper article from the same time and place – a little glimpse of life when the card was posted.
BRIDPORT NEWS
SHERBORNE POLICE COURT, MARCH 14th, 1902
A YOUNG GIRL WEARY OF LIFE
ALLEGED ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
On the 6th inst., at the Sherborne Police Court, Rebecca Anne King, 16 years of age, daughter of Henry King, of Bradford Abbas, was charged with attempting to commit suicide on the Monday previous in Bradford Hollow. Henry King, labourer, said prisoner was his daughter, and was 16 years of age. She had not been living at home lately—not for the last three years. She had been at the Rev. Mr. Locke’s home for about two years, at Misterton. Witness saw her last on Monday morning near Bradford. He wished her good morning. No other words passed between them, She went towards Yeovil. He was surprised to hear afterwards that she had been stay ing at Bradford Abbas. He knew she had left Mr. Locke’s home and gone into service in Yeovil. He thought she was still in service. He did not notice anything peculiar about her when they met. He did not know why she left home at 13 to go to the Rev. Mr. Locke’s home. He had nothing to do with her leaving. Witness had other children at home by another wife, aged 3,9, 12, and 14 respectively. On Monday he received a message at about 4.40 p.m., and in consequence he went to Bradford Hollow, and looked for his daughter, but could not find her. He was by himself. He went back into Bradford, and from what he there heard he proceeded to the other Hollow. He found his daughter in a dry ditch lying down. She was unconscious. He could get no answer from her whatever. He pulled her out of the ditch on to the bank, where she commenced vomiting. Her clothes were not disarranged, and she had her hat on. Witness ordered a trap, and with the assistance of George Chainey, the driver, he carried his daughter to the vehlcle, and they drove to his house. He telegraphed for Dr. Colmer, of Yeovil, who came in about an hour. The police also came that night, and took her in custody the following day. George Jeanes, a keeper of Mr. Clayton’s, at Bradford Abbas, said he was in the Hollow between three and four when he saw something lying on the ground. He found it was the prisoner. He tried to rouse her, but he failed. He put her inside the ditch for care, and then went up the road, He met his niece, who came with him to see if she could recognise the girl. He despatched his niece to tell Mr. King, he himself going home. In about an hour he returned, and found that her father had gone to fetch her. Dr. Colmer said he received the telegram about 7.45, and immediately went over to Bradford. He found the girl on the couch downstairs, She was in a semi-conscious condition. The pupils of her eyes were slightly dilated. There was a whitish vomit on her cape. There were no signs of irritation on her throat or lips, and no particular odour from her mouth. There were no signs of violence. Her pockets were searched, and several notes found, addressed to a young man at Yeovil and to her relations. In one of these, read by the Clerk, the girl said “I have been loneiy since my mother died.”—The doctor, continuing his evidence, said the girl told him nothing, but he concluded she had taken something. There was nothing to lead him to a conclusion as to what it was. The vomit had not yet been analysed. He made a superficial examination of the girl, and came to the conclusion that she was not enciente. P.C. Ford detailed his visit to the King’s house. After the girl had taken some tea, she became fairly sensible, and said she took 3d of gin and 2d of carbolised oil on Sunday. She further stated she had thrown the bottle away in the hollow, but though he had searched he could not find it. Prisoner, on being charged, said she had nothing to say.—The Bench committed her for trial at the next Quarter Sessions.
*At the Quarter Sessions in the April, Rebecca was indicted for taking a quantity of carbolised oil, with intent to kill herself, but the Grand Jury found No Bill – they did not believe there was sufficient evidence, and essentially, refused to accuse her of wrongdoing.
