AN UNUSUAL CASE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1931, Page 5

AN UNUSUAL CASE

MARRIED MAN’S STATEMENT TO POLICE,

AUCKLAND, January 14

Believing, according to his own statement to a constable, that by taking a number of sleeping draughts atone time he would pass away in his sleep and so get riel of all his earthly worries, a married man in Hamilton took half a. dozen sleeping pills at Christmas and slept for four days. -A v a result he was to-day charged witii attempting to take hits life.

A constable said that on interviewing the man at the Waikato Hospital after lie regained consciousness, ho stated that he had had a difference with his wife. It had upset him r

good deal and he had decided t-o t a k<’ all the sleeping pills he possessed in the belief that he would die in hi-

sleep. Counsel for accused, who pleadeo not guilty, said that- the statement ac eused gave to the police was when hi senses were still dulled from the el fects of the drug. Accused suffered from sleeplessness and about two years ago he brought some sleeping pillsHe did not know what these contained. On the night accused had a differ once with his wife, he took a couple of pills, hoping that they would .mak' him sleep. As they did not have tindesired effect he arose later and. too three or four more. He had no in tention of ending hip life. In the cir cumstances he asked that no conviction be recorded. The Magistrate said it was difficuU to get over accused’s statement to th constable. However, there were time* when one was allowed to take the lav into his own hands and the Magistral said he would do so on this occasion and dismissed the charge.