A REJECTED LOVER.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1922, Page 5

A REJECTED LOVER.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. UNCONSCIOUS IN STREET. Palmerston N., May 1. A young man, whose name was ordered to be suppressed, was charged in the court this morning with attempting to commit suicide by taking poison. The young man’s statement was that he had both love and financial worries and intended to leave them all. According to the statement of the police, the accused was found lying on the footpath in Princess Street in an unconscious condition. Medical aid was summoned, and he was found to be suffering from the effects of poisoning. He was removed to the Hospital and made a good Recovery, with the result that this morning he had been discharged 'from the institution. It appeared, that the accused had been keeping company with a young woman living in Palmerston North, and she had refused his further attentions. It was only on Saturday that he had returned from two months’ sojourn at Trentham. He was in the employ of the Defence Department, and last night he went to the young woman’s residence, but found that she was out. He remained in the vicinity l until she returned, but he did iiot speak to her as she entered'the house.' Instead he entered the grounds attach-, cd to the house, and noticing a lightin the young woman’s room approached the window, tapped on the pane, and showing a bottle of poison told her that he was going to poison himself by drinking the contents. Without any further ado he left the grounds. A little later the young woman Heard groans, and becoming alarmed she went outside the gate. There she found the accused lying on the -footpath in an unconscious condition. It transpired that he had carried out his threat.

The senior sergeant explained that the accused, who was a returned soldier, suffered somewhat from shellshock. After regaining consciousness at the hospital he had made further threats to commit suicide.

In reply to the Bench the accused gave an assurance that lie would not repeat the act. If permitted he would rejoin his old regiment, the 42n(l Foot, stationed at Edinburgh Castle, to which he belonged before the war. He had seen active service with the New Zealanders.

The accused was convicted and discharged upon paying the costs of his treatment at the hospital.