Drinking Ends In Suicide Attempt

Northern Advocate, 31 January 1939, Page 3

Drinking Ends In Suicide Attempt

Attempts to commit suicide by jumping out of a windpw at a boarding house in Hikurangi were admitted by Francis Herbert Dennis Fitzgerald, quarry worker, married, of Hikurangi, fn the Magistrate’s Court this morning. Mr G. N. Morris, S.M., presided.

Senior-Sergeant A. Henderson stated that, on January 27, defendant had created a disturbance in a boarding house in Hikurangi, when he broke a window pane upstairs and tried to jump out. He was held back, but later again tried to jump out; saying he wanted to commit suicide. When placed in a cell he tied a piece of blanket round his throat, apparently trying to strangle himself. Drink had evidently been responsible for defendant’s actions, explained the senior-sergeant. When not under the influence of liquor, he was a good worker. He was earning more than £1 per day. “It is quite you should leave drink alone,” commented the magistrate in convicting defendant and ordering him to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months. “I am really taking a risk in letting you go, and if I find you are taking liquor again you will be dealt with very severely. Defendant is to take out a prohibition order against himself.