ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 91, 14 October 1926, Page 14

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

CHARGE AGAINST DRUNKEN MAN DISMISSED

"I AM TOO BIG A COWABD."

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) INVERCABGILL, 13th October. "I am too big a coward to commit suicide," was the naive confession of a w.n in the Magistrate's Court today. '' I respect my wife and family too much to do that," he added. He was charged with being found drunk at Bluff, ivith damaging two blankets, and with attempting to hang himself. Sergeant Hewitt said that defendant was lodged in a' cell at the Bluff police station last night for drunkenness. Some time later a constable went out to the lock-up and found that strips had been torn from blankets, knotted together, and thrown over a hook in the cell. When asked what he was doing defendant replied that he was preparing to hang himself. Constable White gave evidence that j when he was discovered defendant said he was tired of life, and wanted to cause a sensation by hanging himself. Witness produced a rope made of a police blanket. Defendant's story was that he went to sleep immediately after being locked up. On waking he found that he was lying on a roll of blankets; and on unrolling the bundle he was surprised to find the rope produced by the conatable. For '' devilment "he threw the ropo over the hook in the ceiling, and just then the constable came in. The Magistrate remarked that h"e was perfectly satisfied that defendant tore up the blankets. • For this he would be fined £1 and costs. He would be convicted and discharged for drunkenness. The charge of attempted suicide would be dismissed. Defendant: "Could I ask you to have my name suppressed? This is rather a slur on my family." The Magistrate agreed that the case would bo a slur, and ordered that defendant 's name should be suppressed on the attempted suicide charge, but added that it could be published in connection with the charge of drunkenness.