RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2070, 23 August 1875, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DAY

Before; J. Kilgour and E. W. Puckey, Esqs., J's.P.) ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

John MeNaughton was brought up on remand charged with attempting to commit suicide.

Mr Macdonald appeared for accused and pleaded not guilty. Sergeant Elliott stated the circumstances of the case, which we have before detailed.

Mary Davy deposed to-going to McNaughton's house on the morning "of August 6th, and seeing accused all over blood with a chisel in his hand, and he told her to go for the police. He had wounds in his neck and arms ; she went for Mr Denby. George Denby, chemist, deposed to going to accused's house on being sent for, and finding him in the door way of the back room with only his shirt on, blood running down his body on to the floor. He attended to his wounds in the neck and arm, and stopped the flow of blood with lint, a handkerchief and comforter ; there were also two wounds on his side, making seven in all. Accused said in a faint voice, he didn't know how he did it, "he was vexed with himself." He also said he had only had two glasses of brandy and water. The police were sent for, and accused taken to the hospital.

By tho Court—The reason why I asked accused if he had been drinking was, that he had been doing so in December last, when he bad a fit and promised me then never to do so any more. I thought he had been drinking from the warmth of his head, and his flushed appearance. By Mr Macdbnaid--I have heard that accused had been suffering from mental depression from some annbyatyje-^b^vfh^t kind I knpifj not—which- her subse^iiejttly told me led to his drinking again.' Sergeant Ellibtt deposed to goingtaaccused 8 house and finding him there with* his wounds bandaged up and marks of blood on him. Accused told him in answer to a question, that he didn't know why he had done it, his head was wrong. He also said he had done it with a chisel, which the witness found as well as a .handle of a razor close to a pool of blood ; the blade of the razor was in a front room (the razor and chisel iwere produced). He then conveyed him to ihe hospital.-, Dr Fox, surgeon toother Thames .Hospital, deposed to receiving the accused into the hospital, and testified . to, the nature of the wounds found on him. The breadth of six corresponded exactly with that of the chisel produced; the seventh might have been made by the razor blade.

By. Mr Macdonald—l have reason to believe from what I saw of accused in the hospital that he had been suffering from plethora, which might cause despondency amounting to mental derangement. By the Court —The man, when received in the hospital, showed ho iigns of having been drinking, and has been perfectly sane while there. .-^ c ■

Mr Macdonald said he did not propose to bring any :'eyidence/;|j4JKe conceded that the accused had committed the rash deed which amounted to an attempt on. his life. He urged that there was no evidence to show that deceased had done this when intoxicated, in which cas?he would certainly have been culpable; on the contrary, Dr Fox stated he showed no signs of being so, and also that the warmth of the head, which Mr Denby" had deposed to, might have been the result of plethora, which seemed to be borne out by the fact that relief ensued from bleeding. He therefore submitted that the deceased had committed the act while suffering from temporary derangement, and asked for him to be discharged instead of being sent to take his trial, which he argued would only be followed by his acquittal after the expense of the trial had been incurred. The Bench dismissed the charge on the evidence of Dr Fox. DBUNK AND DISOBDEBI.Y. Elizabeth Cash pleaded guilty, and was fined 20s and costs, or forty-eight hours' imprisonment. PUGILISM. David Morrow and Richard McCoid, were charged with fighting in Burke street. Neither of the parties charged appearing, and Sergeant Elliott having stated the circumstances, in the case of Morrow, the time of the summons was extended for 14 days owing to the inquiries he had received, and a warrant issued for the arrest of McCoid. ANOTHEB CASE. William Stidhop and Joseph Hayes were also charged with the same offence on 16th August. They each pleaded guilty, but Sergeant Elliott stated he should like the Bench to hear part of the evidence as there had been a most disgraceful scene. John Casey deposed to witnessing the j fight, and stated that Stidhop (the smaller man) was the aggressor. The Court thought it unnecessary to hear more, and ordered them each to be bound over to keep the peace for six months, themselves in £20 each, and one surety each of £10, and to pay the costs of the case. Court adjourned.