Determined Attempt at Suicide.

Manawatu Herald, 28 October 1897, Page 2

Determined Attempt at Suicide.

£1865 IN HIS POSSESSION. At two o'clock on Sunday morning the lodgers in Mr Cairn's Temperance Hotel at Woodville were awakened by hearing groans which came from the room occupied by a young man named Owen Jones. On proceeding to the room, Jones was discovered with his arm severely gashed in two places. He bad made a most determined attempt to sever the artery, but failed. The cuts appeared to have been mide with a piace of glass. Constable Williams was immediately sent for. \Vhile the messenger was away, Mr Hescott kept watch. Jones made another attempt to make away with himself. Be succeeded in getting his waistband round his throat and over the bed post. He was, however, prevented from doing further harm to himself by Mr Hescott. On the arrival of Constable Williams, Dr. Milne was sent for, and he dressed the wound and administered a composing draught. The Con stable then took Jones in charge, and he was locked up in the police station. On being searched, the man was found to have £45 in ready cash in his pockets, and a draft for £1820 from Carnarvon, Wales, on the Bink of Australasia in Wellington. Jonea is 26 years of age. He had only come to Woodville last Wednesday from the Marton district, where he had been working on Mr Mcßeth's Forgon Farm. He had been a little strango in his manners since his arTivat;~but; nothing serious was anticipated. The unfortunate young man was brought up a«; the Court on Monday imrping, before Messrs Gothard and Motley, J's. P-. and charged with being hopelessly insane. Dr Milne gave evidence as to bow he found the accused in the boardinghouse yesterday morning. What was prpying on Jones' mind was he irniginpd he had been guilty of some disgraceful act, which would bring disgrace on his family, and he wished . to die. He asked for strychnine.

Constable Williams detailed how he arrested the accused. After ho was placed in the cell he was very wild; and was continually yelling out for someone to kill him or give him poison. After the Bench had read the certificates of Dra Milne and Dawson, who had examined the accused) he was committed to the Wellington Lunatic Asylum. - Ex amtner.