THREAT OF SUICIDE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1930, Page 8

THREAT OF SUICIDE

TRAGIC STORY OF DRUNKEN HUSBAND.

PALMERSTON N., Feb. 12.

A story with elments of the tragic

was unfolded in the Magistrate's Court, when a young married woman stood in the dock charged with attempted suicide. “More sinned against than sinning,” was the description applied to accused by the Senior-Sergeant, and evidence bore out the assertion. “This woman lias been worried and knocked about by her husband until she has about reached the end of her mental tether,’’ said Senior-Sergeant Whitehouse. “Last night her husband was in such a drunken state that he was loc-kec up. He threw his wife and children out of their home and when the worn a i in her distress said that she would end it all in the river he replied cool It that that was the best thing she couh do. A man says that he stopped accused from throwing her baby in tin river but it appears that she collapse< on the bank and the’ bady rolled in. 'me woman is not so much to blame as the husband who has spoiled hei life.”

Further details of the case were sup plied by accdsed’s solicitor, Air A. J. M’Loavey ,who stated that her husband was in receipt of a salary of £3OO a year and spent practically the wlioli of it in drink. The family was in destitute circumstances. Only yesterday all their furniture had been sold up and they were in debt everywhere. Tue husband had been on leave from his employment for some weeks anc ..au spent the wnole time soaking drink. The woman had just come out of hospital, where she had been under a

doctor’s care with nervous prostration. An argument had developed after tea at their house and the unfortunatt woman had said that the only way out was for her to throw herself into the river. The husband had replied: “The best thing you can do is -o throw yourself in. The unfortunate woman had taken her small children and had wheeled them in a push cart down Ferguson Street to the river. However .she stated that she had no intention in the world of carrying on. her threat. Her people were willing to give her a home and she proposed to obtain a separation from her bus-' band although she considered that if •*e was living in a no-license district he might even yet have a chance. Counsel asked the Magistrate to be lenient with his client. She had undergone a great deal and there was 410 doubt that she was at the end of her mental tether. She had three small Children—two girls aged .seven and nine years and a baby aged four years and eleven months. “If her people will take her I will convict and discharge her,” said the Magistrate. An order was made for the suppression of the woman’s name.

Her husband was then placed in the do civ and charged with being found helplessly drunk in Ferguson Street, on the application of the police he was remanded for a week in order that he might be placed under observation.