ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5521, 6 December 1878, Page 6

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court on November 14th Sarah H. Jacobs was charged with attempting to commit suicide by taking an overdose of poison. William George Jacobs, musician, residing in Wellington, deposed as follows ; —The prisoner is my wife, and has been been married to me for about nine years. At 5 o’clock on last Sunday morning I was awakened by my wife coming into the bedroom. She looked as if she had been in tho yard or the kitchen, as she had a shawl wrapped over her shoulders. She said, I have poisoned myself.” I said, “ What did you do that tor ?” She said, “Because I'll not be any more trouble to you.” I asked her what she had taken, and she replied sugar of load. I hastened to put on mv clothes, and went to Ur. Tripe’s, who was the nearest doctor to my house. I rang the bell, and after some time the doctor came to the door. I said, “ My wife has taken poison, will you please come immediately.” Ho said, “ I cannot eomo, as I have no stomach-pump, and would bo of no use without one.” I directly went to Dr. Harding’s and told him what had happened to my wife, and asked him to come homo directly. He said, “ I can’t come as I have been up all night.” I then asked him to lend Dr. Tripe his stomach-pump. I said what am I to do ? while I am running about like this tho woman may die. Dr. Harding said that Dr. Kestovcn would probably go. I called, and Dr. Kosteven went witli me to my house. When wo entered the bedroom my wife was sitting on tho bed. She was vomiting. I carried Dr. ICcstoveu s pump, but it was not used. Ho gavo_ her a white powder to take, and told mo to light a lire aud make some hot water. Tho doctor was iu tho house about half au hour. Ho said she ought to bo put iu on asylum as a protection to herself. Ho asked me if she over attempted to commit suicide before. I him yes, that iu her former husband’s tune sue took poison. She had also jumped iuto tho water, I told tho doctor that she had two relations who had died ia a mad houso in Lon-

don, and that there were other two in a mad house at present, unless they had lately died. She also had one brother walking about the streets of London, who should uob bo allowed to go at largo. Dr. Kesteven deposed that ho visited the last witness* g house, tie gave her some medicine to make the woman sick, and next gave her au antidote for sugar of lead. When he left the house she was going on all right. By the Bench : I could not tell of my own knowledge what amount of sugar of lead she took. I only know what the husband told me. She told me she had taken poison, but that she was sorry for it. Prisoner, after being cautioned, said: X took the poison through my husband’s stepson, who gave me a black eye and tried to strangle me and choke me last Saturday afternoon. He threatened to do for me on several occasions. I bought the same young man out of the army. Prisoner was then committed to take her trial.