CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 298, 12 September 1919, Page 8

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

PLEA OF NOT GUILTY. ■ Bj TcleKruuii.—Prom Association. Christchurch, September 11. it is not usual for a person charged with attempted suicide to plead not guilty, but this occurred at the Magistrate's Court to-day, when liichard Swiubonrno was charged before Mr. M'Carthy, S.M., with having attempted .to commit (juicido by throwing himscCf in front of a tramcar. The incident occurred on August 8 on Moorhouso Avenue. After evidence had been heard, accused, who epoko in an educated, cultured manner, said lie wished to make a statement. He, presumed the witnesses wero correct in what they had said. He had forgotten the details of tiie affair. Howovcr, ho remembered that lie had slipped on the mil and fell in front of a car. He was probably the only person in the worfd who knew the action had not bqen intentional. "Tho witnesses are perfectly right in their details, but they are absolutely wrong in their deduction that I deliberately threw myself in front of tho car," he concluded. Siib-Tiippcctor MuJlnny said that accused had been drinking heavily. Accused: .1 was absolutely sober at tho time. ' ' Another witness said that accused was drunk on the morning of the accident. Witness considered that had not accused been drunk ho would have been the hist man to commit suicide. TliQ Magistrate said ho was of cninion that accusod did attempt to'commit suicide. Accused.vms convicted and placed on probation for 12 months. A prohibition order was iv'.so issued against him.