A PATHETIC TALE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 149, 21 March 1927, Page 10

A PATHETIC TALE

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE Dominion Special Service. Auckland, March 19. After writing a note to his wife saying that lie was sick of suffering, and that he intended to end it all, a man, 51 years of age, last .night attempted to strangle himself with a cord forming part of an attachment to his artificial leg. The pathetic circumstances surrounding the incident were told in the Magistrate’s Court this morning, when the man pleaded guilty to the charge of attempted suicide. Evidence was given that accused and his wife had occupied rooms in an apartmenthouse in Symonds Street for the last few months. About 8.30 last night, the landlord stated, accused’s wife called him into a bedroom. Accused was found sitting on a bed with a cord wound tightly round his neck. He was somewhat dazed, and was put to bed when the cord was released. Recently accused had been despondent and depressed, owing to loss of his leg at Dunedin a year ago. Witness saw a note which accused had left addressed to his wife. Evidence was then tendered by a constable. Accused . said that he had suffered much pain from the nerves in his leg, but did not remember trying to take his life last night. Senior-Sergeant Edwards then detailed a conversation which he had with the unfortunate man this morning. Accused said he remembered sitting on the bed mending his artificial leg. “Something then came over me, but I do not remember any more,” he added. ■ Tlie Magistrate remanded accused in custody until Monday. On accused’s own application, his name was suppressed. ,