ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AND MURDER.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 35, 27 January 1864, Page 5 (Supplement)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AND MURDER.

f Frnm the J/ttss Courier.) At a. very early liour on Thursday morning, a plasterer Darned William Williams, who has been working in town for some months past, attempted to cut the throat of a respectable young woman to whom he was paying his addresses, and afterwards succeeded in inflicting a severe wound in his own, a little above what is popularly known as " Adam's apple." The wound is about three inches long, and, we believe slightly penetrated the windpipe. The circumstances connected with this threatened tragedy are briefly these •. — For some time past Williams and the young woman, whose name we refrain from giving, as its publication, perfectly unnecessary to the narrative, might cause unpleasant emotions to herself and lier family, were on those terms of friendship which usually precede marriage, but it would seem that latterly some circumstances occurred which made it advisable, on the part of the female or her relatives, to break off the proposed match, or at all events postpone it for some time. This circumstance appeared to prey heavily on Williams's mind, and he gave himself up to despondency. On Sunday last Williams and his sweetheart went out for a walk along the banks of the Tass river, arid during the time they were in each other's company the conversation appears to have turned upon the disappointment which he felt. He then threatened to put an end to his life, and took a razor from his pocket, expressing his intention of destroying himself. The female promptly took the razor from his hand and threw it into the water. We believe he subsequently said he would tie his hands and legs together and jump into the river. To prevent him from carrying his threat into execution, she deprived him of two handkerchiefs he had with him, expecting that after a little reflection he would see the folly of such a course. They appear to have parted good friends, and nothing further occurred to create alarm as to his stafce o£ mind until early on Tuesday morning. Late on the previous evening he viaited the female, who is about seventeen years

of age, at her married sister's, arid was then pretty cheerful. After sitting and chatting with them for some time, he left for the purpose of proceeding: to his lodgings, which were. at a public house in the immediate neighbourhood. He was at that time dressed in his working clothes. Soon after he quitted, the house, the females retired to rest, the -one to whom Williams was paying his attentions oeGupynig a room at the back of the house,an& which is entered by a halfrglass door. Qne of the panes : next to the bed beiag broken, the young woman was iia. the habit, on retiring to rest and locking the door, of taking the key out of it in order to prevent intrusion, whitih could have been effected by ,puttmg the hand through the> broken pane and turning the key. Some time after they had fallen asleep, Williams appears to have come to the girl's room and asked to be let in, saying he was too late to get into his lodgings. She refused to allow him to come in as there was no one in •.";he house except herself and her jjnarried sister. He thena&ked for a Hlanket, and she thrust one through the ' broken pane, together -with the koy of the kitchen, telling him he c ovid go and sleep in that place if he was locked out. He again asked for admittance into her bedroom, saying he would die upon her bed. Finding that she would not open the door, he said he would go and drown himself. He was then heard to. run towards the rivtvr, which Avas also the direction he won Id take were ho going to his lodgings. He appeal's to have gone to tnem, changed his working-day clothes fo>- t hose he usually dressed in •on Sivucl iys, and taking up a new razor, wMcli he had purchased a few days previously, he return/d to the dooi'- of the g.rl's room. Both the females were ay that time asleep. Passing his hand through the broken pane, he priscc' 1 ack the bolt of the door with a knilb. The noise awoke the girl, and caJlirig out, -she spi*ang out of bed. Williai is, who by that time had entered tl c 'room, told her he had come to nmrG'er her and then to cut his own thior.t. The affrighted -girl screamed out to her sister, who was occupying a- bedroom parallel to her own. Willi ams caught hold of her by the back of the neck with one hand, while with th c other he was preparing, apparently, to- put his threat into execution, as the razor was hi it when her sister fortunately opened the door leading into the parlor, and by a jerk of the body the girl escaped into that room follow*, d by Williams. The married sister, seeing the critical state of circumstances,, rushed to the front door, and opei lin g it, ran across the street to her father's for help. A large table standing in the centre of the parlor aftbrde*! * facility for the escape of the poor young woman ; she ■ passed rapidly round to the furthest end of it, and while doing so, Williams, apparently disap oointed in not accomplishing his firsu purpose, drew the razor across his ti'roat, and fell heavily on the floor .- a. gurgling sound told the story. The y;irl, of course, made her escape into tne street. On the return of her sister with her father, they went to the spot where Williams had fallen, but he was not there. A largo pool of blood marked the spot, and the red fluid had been spurted to a considerable distance around. On going into the girl's room they found him lying on her bed on his face, the blood pouring from a wound in his throat. Sub-inspector Brennan and constable Smith, who live close by, were quickly aroused, and in a few ■ seconds were on the spot. Dr. O'Connor was sent for, and was about to insert sutures in. the lips of the wound, when Williams became frightfully violent. The combined exertions of the two police, Dr. O'Connor and the girl's father were powerless to hold him down; he managed to force himself from their grasp, and kicked and struggled with such power and pertinacity that it was eventually found necessary to place handcuffs on him, and tie his legs, connecting the rope by which they were confined to the handcuffs. The task then of keeping him quiet was comparatively easy, especially when, at the request of Dr. O'Connor, the young girl stood by the side. Three or four sutures were then inserted, and, after a short time, Williams was taken to the lock-up and a straight-jacket placed on him to prevent him from doing further violence to himself. We have been told by those who were engciged in holding him that a task of equal difficulty they had never encountered. It was some hours from the time that the police and doctor arrived before the surgical treatment could be proceeded" with, so violent and excited was Williams. Being a youthful man and of powerful muscle, labouring under terrific excitement, it required strength, more than manual strength, to subdue him, and until he was restrained in the manner we have stated he was more like a maniac than one temporarily bereft of reason. He was afterwards removed to the hospital, where he remains On arriving there he was at first very excited, and would doubtless have been violent had he not been under the restraint of a straightjacket. In the hopes of calming him the young female was requested to see him, and since her visit he has been much calmer. The wound itself is not of a dangerous character, and the only apprehension that exists is from inflamation that might set in. The razor, which was thrown into the river, has since been recovered. Williams states that he had " planted " a considerable sum of money, we believe about £70 or £SO, under a stone beneath the Yass Bridge. A minute search, has been made for it, but without success, and ifc is thought that at the time he made the statement he was laboring under a mental delusion,