ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 254, 27 October 1898, Page 7

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

A man aa'lio gave his name as Frank McArthur was taken to the Hospital on Monday- night, October 3rd, suffering from laudanum poisoning. He Avas seen by some boys betAveen eight and nine o'clock in thea ct of drinking something out oi a phial in HoAve-st. The boys suspected the man Avas trying to poison himself and they picked up the bottle, which Avas a half ounce phial, and carried it to Mr Manning's, chemist, in Karangahape Road. It Avas found to smell of laudanum, and the boys Avent and informed Con- ; stable Douthett. The constable Avent j to a vacant allotment off Howe-street, j where he found the man lying on the i ground. All the man would say was that he wanted to die and was tired of the Avorld and that he was sorry that Avhat he had taken had not done its work at once. Constable Douthett took him to the Newton Police Station, shaking him energetically to keep the man from going to sleep, as he wished to do. On reaching the station Sergeant Walker took the man in hand, administered an emetic and ran him about the backyard till he vomited. Dr. Moir, Avho had been telephoned for, arriA-ed and used the stomachpump, after Avhich the man was removed to the Hospital. He gave his name as Frank McArthur, and is said to have come from Paeroa last. The police know nothing about him or his antecedents. McArthur is improving at the Hospital, the prompt action of the police haA'ing in all probability saved his life

Mr Frank Best, formerly a commercial traveller, Avas found Avith his throat cut on October Oth under circumstances Avhich pointed to an attempt at suicide. It seems that for the last twelve or eighteen months MiBest has suffered from paralysis, which eventually attacked his brain and rendered him incapable of work, besides necessitating constant supervision. On Friday afternoon he Avas supposed to be in the garden of his house in City Road, but when his brother-in-laAv Avent to look after him about four o'clock Mr Best was not to be seen. His relative, however, noticed that the fowl-house door Avas barricaded, and on looking in he saw Best- lying in a pool of blood, Avhich proceeded from a Avound in his throat, some three or four inches long, and made by a razor. Dr. Darby was called in and found that the Avound had not severed the windpipe, and Avas notlikely to proA'e fatal. On the doctor's recommendation the patient Avas removed to the Hospital on Friday night. The affair was not reported to the police until Saturday night, when the patient became so violent that a constable had to be called in to keep watch over him lest he should try to hurt himself again. Best is about 40 years of age, and has a wife and family. When asked why he had tried to make away Avith himself he gave the stereotyped reason, 'Tired of life.' It is understood that steps will be taken to place him under proper control.