MAYOR’S COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 2892, 27 May 1872, Page 3

MAYOR’S COURT.

This Day. (Before His Worship the Mayor.) DRUNKENNESS. Charles Millar was Hned 10s, or in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. Archibald Nesbitt for being drunk while in charge of a horse Was lined 20a, with a like alternative. Michael Donoghue, alias Kane, was fined 20a or three days. INDECENCY. Margaret M‘ Laughlan for this offence, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. Ann Sutherland (on remand) was charged with this offence. From the evidence, it appeared that a neighbor of the accused, hearing that she had taken poison, went to her house and found her in a state of great excitement. She had a tumbler lying at her feet, and laudanum on her lips. In answer to Mrs Wilson, who at once sent for an emetic, the accused admitted having taken the laudanum. The husband, in his evidence, said his -wife had before threatened to commit suicide ; but his replies, when pressed for the reason of her threatening to do so, were in bis Worship’s opinion very unsatisfactory. He complained of his wife’s misconduct, and said she had no reason to complain of him—“none in particular” he added, when pressed. The laudanum he purchased some three months ago from Mr Bagley for a complaint of his wife ; and when she threatened to commit suicide, he looked for it, unknown to her, but did not find.it. —Sergeant Neill stated, in a portion of his evidence, that on taking the accused to Ihe Hospital, he asked if she had taken the laudanum, and shcreplicd * Yes, give me more of it, ray husband has been cruel to me. I won’t trouble him long.” Afterwards, she sa'd her husband on one occasion had struck her on the breasts, rendering it necessary for her to visit the hospital; and that at other limes he held her hands and struck her. Dr. Yates gave it as his opinion that the accused, in her present low state of spirits, was likely to do the same thing again. His Worshi said he should have taken a different course from committing the accused for trial, but for the evidence of Dr. Yates. It was his intention, under the circumstances, to have allowed her to be discharged upon one person’s recognisance in the sum of LOO, that she could keep the peace for six months. But Dr Yates said that the accused, in her present state of mind might commit the same offence, and he (the Mayor) was not at all sure that she would receive the protection and kindness a woman in her state should receive. To dischargo her, therefore, was a responsibility too great for him to take. It was not usual for the Bench to make remarks fn similar cases, but the present was a special one. The unfortunate woman was far more sinned against than sinning ; and he was very sorry to be obliged to adopt the course of committing her for trial. He would, however, accept such bail as would ensure that the accused would be looked -after in such a way as would prevent her repeating the offence. The accused was then formally committed for trial at the ensuing sessions.