ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 295, 16 May 1914, Page 2

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

aKW PLYMOUTH" MAN'S DESPOXDENCY. Drink and despondency wore the main reasons urged liy tleorge Harrison Mci Cornish, a middle aged man, for an attempt on his life on May 7. Accused, who appeared in the Magistrate's Court Xew Plymouth, yesterday, before Mr. A. C'rooke, S.M.. pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted suicide, and elected to be dealt with .summarily. Detective-Sergeant lioddam, who conducted tne case on behalf of the, police, stated that accused, who was a resident of New Plymouth, went home on the evening in question, after indulging in. drink to some extent, and took a dose of oxalic acid. The poison had been bought by one of the inmates of the house some two years ago for cleaning hats, and, fortunately for accused, had lost some of its strength. Dr. Fookcs was called in to administer restoratives and accused had recovered. H* had been addicted to drink, and had been out of work for some time. His conduct generally had been good. "I did not know what I was doing," said accused, "when I committed such a foolish act. I had become very despondent, as I had written all over New Zealand to try and get work, and had always received a refusal. I had been relying on a letter concerning a billet and also with some money that was due to me. When it came, it was only another refusal, and said nothing about paying me the money that was due to me. It was very wet that day, and I became very despondent. I met a couple of friends and began drinking whisky. When I got home I found that the whisky, instead of cheering me up, made me feel worse, and everybody was talking about a funeral which had taken place that da}'. 1 became very depressed, and took.some brandy on top of the whisky. The next thing I remember was finding the police in my room. I have no recollection of taking poison. It was not like me to do so, as I generally look on the bright side of life. It all seems like a nightmare to me." Mr. Crooke, S.M.: You are addicted to drink? Accused: I never drink spirits except medicinally, only beer. I have never been in prison before. Ilis Worship convicted accused and ordered him to come up for sentence when called upon within the next six montha. lie also ordered him to pay expenses, amounting to lis Gel, within a week.