POLICE COURT, CAMBRIDGE. Yesterday.—(Before Mr H. W. Northcraft, R.M.)

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1830, 29 March 1884, Page 2

POLICE COURT, CAMBRIDGE. Yesterday.— (Before Mr H. W. Northcraft, R.M.)

A Persistent Suicide. [ A MAN named William Atkinson, was chaiged, on the information of Constable Breunan, for havinir on the 21st March, at ! Oxford, attempted to kill and murder himself, by thi owing himself into a cicek at i Oxford. Accused w.is charged mi annthei i insinuation >•. ith ha\ingcut and w ounded himself with a r.i/.ui, with intent to kill and imudei himself on the same date at Ox foul. Constable Brcnuan piosccuted. Patrick Smith, a gangei in the employ of Mr F.illon at Oxford, was called an: 1 deposed to having Le.ni set by Mr F.illon, to watch the accused, who after being fished out of the cieek in the morning was confined in a back kkhh in McManus' hotel. lie was lying in a bunk near-by the accused, when all at once he saw him di aw a razor across his throat. He made a Wind and caught hold of the ij,'oi, which was pulled thiough his hand causing serious injury. Accused was \eiy wolcnt, and a->ked to ha\e the razor, that he might "make a q >od job of it." He (witne-is) p-it the lazoi in lii> pocket, and went out and gave the alaiin. Accused was bleeding profusely from the wound in the neck. He believed the accused was m the h mois, but ' did not think lie had had much drink at Oxfoid. John Collins deposed to having helped to pull accused out of the ii\er. Could not say what he went into the liver for. Kxpected he wanted to commit suicide. After getting him out of the mer he bi ought him (accused) up to McManus', wheie he took in hand to look after him. After he cut his throat he looker! the most hoirible sight of a human being he (witness) ever saw, and neaily frightened him out of his wits. After accused was defeated in cutting his own throat, he endeavouied to kill witness. Witness, on being questioned bv accused, stated that when hand > and accused went to Ovford to look tor a job they were both almost in the hoirois. While at Oxfoid accused could get no drink, as neither he nor w itness bad money to buy any. Constable Dillon deposed to having airested the accuspd at Oxfoid. When he went to Oxford to make the at rest, he found accused tied down in a bunk in McManus' hotel. He seemed to be suff ei ing fion the effects of drink. This closed the e\ idence for the prosecution. The accused reserved his defence. Further proceedings were deferred until this mot ling, when it will be decided to eithei commit the aeccused for trial or deal with him smmiiaiily.