A FOOLISH PRACTICE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4635, 30 January 1894, Page 3

A FOOLISH PRACTICE.

The Improper use of Drugs,

About ten o'clock last night tho polite were informed that Louis Holmes, storeman for Messrs Lowes and lorns bad attempted suicide by taking poison. Constable Cashion nt once sect for a doctor nnd proceeded to Holmes' residence, where he found the man suffering from the effects of chloroform. On the. advice of Dr. Douglas, who was speedily in attend ance, Holmes to removed to the lock-up, and this morning oharged heforo Messrs T. E Price and W. Lowes, J.P.'s, in the Masterton R.M, Court, with unlawfully using chloroform by pouring it on his head and facs with iutent to kill and murder himeolf. .

Constable Cashion gave evidence that about ten o'olock one of Mr Holmes' boys camo and told him that his father had taken poison. Sent the boy for the doctor and went up to Holmes' bouse.nnd was told by Mis Holmes that her husband bad poured tho contents of a bottle of poison over bis face.

Sergeant McArdle in reply to the Bench stated that although the man had beon brought to the station on the doctor's recommendation, he did not consider his situation sorious. Holmes had since told him that he took the drug to induce sleep. The charge had been laid in consequence of the statements of the family, Mrs Holmes was, howSver, too ill to attend Court, and there was no further evidence.-

In reply to tba Benoh, Holmes said that feeling worried and being unable to sleep, he bad placed a little chloroform ou his handkerchief and face simply lo induco sleep. He had often done the Fame thing in the past and hid not suffered any ill effects. He had no intention of doing himself harm, but had been kept up for three nights through the illness of his wife and was unwell.

Mr Lowes observed that he might say be. could bear out Holmes statement in a measure, as he (Holmes) had asked to be relieved of his duties at the store yesterday morning, owing to his feeling ill through want of sleep. Tho Bench decided there was really no evidence to support the charge, and the informal ion would be dismissed, the usual order for costs incurred by the police in tho discharge of their duty to be made.