CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 428, 14 December 1868, Page 2

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

At the District Court in Hokitika, on Tuesday, Ada Price was indicted for, on the 27th October, attempting to commit suicide by swallowing a quantity of essential oil of almonds. The prisoner, who was defended by Mr Button, pleaded "Not Guilty." Alice M'Devitt deposed that she saw prisoner about the 27th October last, in Greymouth, on board the steamer Waipara. Gave her (prisoner) the following telegram from Westport : —" Tall Mrs Kirkpatrick not to come here. lam leaving in John Penn. Kirkpatrick." Prisoner appeared to be shocked on reading the telegram. Some time afterwards she asked if she could sit down in witness's house., as she felt ill. While there she sent witness's daughter out for something. Witness thought that when prisoner sent her daughter out she was sending for liquor, and tried to stop her. Prisoner said that witness wanted to know too much, and persisted in sending the girl. Saw prisoner afterwards drinking out of a lemonade bottle at the door. She became very ill and Dr Morice was sent for, when it was found that she bad drunk a shilling's worth of essence of almonds.

Ooss-examined by Mr Button— Prisoner was married to Mr Kirkpatrick two days afterwards.

Mr Button, for the defence, said that the principal point the jury had to consider was the intent of the prisoner in taking the drug. It had been proved that she was suffering from hysteria at the time, and he contended, therefore, that she was not accountable for her actions, for it was well-known that while in that state the reasoning faculties were suspended, and the passion which at the time might be paramount guided the actions. He also considered that under the circumstances —her lover having been reported to have gone away with another woman —great allowance ought to be made for her, and that instead of being brought up before the police court she should have been cared for until she recovered her health. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy. On the verdict being returned, the prisoner became considerably affected and sobbed hysterically for some minutes. His Honor said, that taking into consideration the circumstances of the case, and the strong recommendation of the jury, he would pass as light a sentence as the law allowed, viz., one month's imprisonment.