ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1929, Page 3

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

WOMAN USES TABLE KNIFE.

(Grey “Star.”)

“She apparently found that life was becoming unbearable on the farm, ami thought the best way was to get out of it,” said Sergeant C. J. King, of Hokitiira, at the Urey mouth Court on Sat- ! unlay morning when a married woman, Alice Jane Norcross Dunn was charged with attempting to commit suicide at Ho Ho yesterday. Accused, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded guilty, and elected to be dealt with summarily liy Air AY. Meldrum, S.M. Sergeant King stated that the woman resided with her husband and two young children on a farm at 110 Ho, just outside Hokitika. There had been domestic disagreement, which had been going on for several months. “There is not much give and take between the two,” he continued. “They quarrel and she comes to Hokitika, and lie has to come and take her back again. She has haunted the Hokitika Police Station lately. I am trying to work a reconciliation between them. She apparently found that life was becoming unbearable on the farm, and thought the best way was to get out of it. She tried to do the deed with a table knife, bu it was rather a crude instrument, and was not very sharp. She went into the sitting room yesterday morning and used the knife. The screams of the children attracted the attention of a young man who was passing in a motor car. The cut was low down, and she had to get through a considerable amount of flesh before she could do much damage. It was only a scratch and she suffered no ill effects. She is forty-three years of age. Her husband is in Court, and he might be able t< enlighten the Court as to the cause o' the .affair. It might be a lesson t. her, and she may realise that it is nm so easy as it looks.” The Sergeant added that one of the children is going to school, and the other is about three years old.

“ft is not a case for punishment,” decided the S.AI., “and I do not propose to inflict any. I would like to advise i.er husband and herself that, for the sake of the children, they should try and sink their personal differences, and carry on as they ought to do. She is convicted and discharged.”