The Preston Guardian
Saturday June 11 1853
Suicide
On Monday last, the body of a young woman named Elizabeth Dean, aged 25 years, was picked up by a boatman in the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, near a bridge called "Molly i'th Wood Bridge," within Hapton, and was conveyed to a barn at Rose Grove, Habergham Eaves. In the course of the day the body was examined by Mr. Smirthwaite, surgeon, of Burnley, who considered that it must have been on the water for several days. It appears that the unfortunate woman had frequently been subject to aberrations of intellect, and had for some time been confined to the County Lunatic Asylum, from whence she was only discharged about six weeks ago. After her release, she had gone to reside with her mother at Crawshaw Booth, who had some time since left Burnley to live with her sister and brother-in-law in that village. She was considered sufficiently recovered to attend her employment as a power-loom weaver, and accordingly left her residence for that purpose on Friday morning; but instead of going to her work at the factory, she went on the road towards Burnley (where she has many relatives), and nothing was heard of her until Monday, when her body was found as above stated. A few days before she had attempted strangulation in bed, whilst lying by the side of her mother, by tying the hem of her own tightly round her throat, but her mother just awoke in time to save her life then. Her mother is well known by the name of "Peggy Dean," but her real name is Smith, having been married, when a widow, to a respectable man of that name, who resides at Burnley; but she parted from her husband soon after their marriage. There is no truth whatever that the deceased was in the family way, or that she was murdered by her supposed sweetheart, as there were no marks of violence on her person, save a light scratch on her back, and a cut on her arm.
_________________ Mel
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