Mexborough and Swinton Times, July 29th, 1932
Girl’s Attempted Suicide At Mexborough Canal
Case For Cripples’ Guild
How a man rescued a cripped girl from drowning in the canal at Mexborough was told at Doncaster on Saturday when Mabel Beech (26) daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Beech, 10 Cross Gate, Mexborough, was charged with attempting suicide.
Thomas Houlbrook, miner of 33, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, said he and Arthur Ward, of Church Street, Mexboro’ saw the girl walking on the towing path at 5-40 p.m. on June 23rd, and when they were about 80 yards from her she suddenly walked into the water. Witness and Ward snatched her arm and pulled her out and informed her parents.
Inspector Redfern said only 12 months ago defendant attempted to drown herself.
P.c. Driver said Beech had admitted trying to taker her life and asked him not to make a case of it. The fact that she suffered from a hip disease got on her mind
The girl’s mother said her daughter had a good home but she had always thought no-body wanted her because she was a cripple. Her daughter needed a holiday and ought to be in a convalescent home.
In answer to the Clerk, witness said the girl’s father had not always been kind to her, but he had treated her better lately.
The chairman (Mr. G. E. Cooke-Yarborough) warned the girl not make any further attempts. She would be bound over for 12 months and the Doncaster Cripples Guild will take an interest in her and give her something to keep her occupied. Her father would have to appear at court next Saturday, when he would be bound over.