Attempted Suicide in Gaol.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 215, 13 August 1887, Page 5

Attempted Suicide in Gaol.

A man named Cornelius Johnson was awested in Sydney on a charge of embezzlement. . A friend of Johnson's named Wiley, called to see him about 5 o'clock in the afternoon. A constable then opened the trap-door of the cell, where he was confined, when he was surprised to see an immense volume of smoke issuing from the place The prisoner was discovered lying on the iloor of the cell quite stiff and apparently dead. Means were taken to restore animation, which were eventually successful, and the would-be suicide waa conveyed to the Sydney hospital. It appears that he first attempted to hang himself by a line, which he made out of a handkerchief. He cut the handkerchief in &hreds, tied the pieces together, and placing a loop round hte neck, and another at the opposite extremity,, into which he placed his foot, he then, by dragging at the line and straining his neck, endeavoured to accomplish his purpose. He found, however, that he could nofc succeed in this. He then obtained a match, with which he lighted the matting on the iloor of the cell. This time the would-be suicide was more successful, and had almost effected his. purpose when he was discovered.