SHOCKING OCCURRENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8999, 12 March 1888, Page 5

SHOCKING OCCURRENCE.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN PARNELL. A MAN CUTS HIS THROAT IN THE PUBLIC STREET. DRINK AND DOMESTIC TROUBLE. John David Gray, a labouring man, about 65 years of age, made a most deliberate and determined attempt to end his life by cutting his throat in the public street, Manukau Road, Parnell, in the presence of Constable Hobson, Mr. George Raynes, and a number of others. The circumstances surrounding the perpetration of the act are of the most extraordinary character. It appears that for some time past Gray, who resided with his wife in a house near Mr. Nairn's, grocer, Manukau Road, Parnell, has been very unhappy in his domestic relations, and quarrels between his wife and himself were of very frequent occurrence. A short time ago matters became intensified by the return of his unmarried daughter, who had been in service in the Whangaroi district. She proved to be enceinte, and was delivered of a child in his house. This circumstance led to renewed quarrelling between husband and wife, and the result was that about a fortnight ago Mrs. Gray laid an information against her husband for assault. The latter determined to defond the case, and by the aid of Mr. Raynes, butcher, in whose employ he had been for some years, he engaged Mr. O'Meagher to defend him; but, at the last moment, Mrs. Gray declined to prosecute, and the case fell through. The action, however, resulted in a separation, Mrs. Gray and her daughter clearing out to another house. An arrangement was arrived at for a division of the furniture, and on Friday last Gray took a small place in Scarborough Terrace, at the back of the Roman Catholic Church, and removed his portion of the furniture into it. Curiously enough this is the same hut in which a man named Pond committed suicide some short time ago, and it is possible that it was brooding over this that led Gray to make the desperate attempt to end his troubles and his ilfe at the same time. At all events he was determined to make no secret of the matter, for shortly before nine o'clock on Saturday morning he called on Constable Hobson at the Parnell police station, and asked him to come up to Raynes', as ho wanted to settle matters. The constable, thinking ib was with regard to the employment ot Mr. O'Meagher in relation to the assault case already referred to, replied that he would be up in five minutes. Meanwhile Gray went to Mr. Raynes' shop, and told him that he was tirod of it, and meant to cut his throat. Mr. Raynes, thinking he was not serious, told him not to bo such a fool as to talk like that, upon which he replied that he was determined, and Constable Hobson would be up in five minutes. Sure enough, within the time stated, the constable came up, and Gray said to him " You are punctual, Mr. Hobson." Mr. Raynes told the constable, after a few minutes'conversation, that he supposed ho had botter take the fool in charge. All three were standing together on tho footpath in front of Mr. Raynes' shop, and Gray at once sprang into tho centre of tho street, and drawing a white-handled table knife, he flourished it rovnd his head, and then, feeling with his left hand at the left side of his throat he called out, " Now you will see what a man can do calmly and deliberately." Constable Hobson cricd out to him, " Don't Jack, don't Jack," and sprang towards him, but he was too late, for the wretched man plunged the knife, which was sharpened to a point, into his throat, but before ho had time to draw it across Hobson had his arms pinioned from behind. Gray was a strong, powerful man, and Constable Hob.«on showed great pluck in rushing on him single-handed while he held that dangerous weapon in his hand, but he held im securely until Henry Wade, one of Mr. Raynes's men, come to his assistance and took the knife from Gray. Hobson still holding Gray's arms with one hand, grasped the gaping wound (from which the blood was spouting) with tho other, and, using his full strength, he held the wound rasped tightly, and prevented further hemorrhage. Had it not been for Hobson's prompt action, the would-be suicide must have bled to death in a few seconds. Meanwhile, Mr. Martin, grocer, telephoned to the medical gentlemen residing in Parnell, and in less than fifteen minutes Drs. McKellar, Erson, and Wright arrived almost together, and Dr. McKellar was the first to relieve Constable Hobson's grasp of the wound, just as his hand was almost numbed from the tension. Gray was removedoffthe street into Mr. Raynes's shop, and the three medical gentlemen took turns at plugging the arteries and stitching up the wound, and then on their recommendation the constable took Gray to the Hospital in Mr. Thomas Hodgson's spring cart. Gray was quite conscious on the trip to the Hospital, and spoke frequently, and on one occasion complained of thirst. The constable procured a drink of water for him, which he drank greedily. When Gray stuck the knife into his throat he held in his left hand an old wooden pipe, which he stuck to with great tenacity. On one occasion the constable took it out of his hand on the way to the hospital, but ho became very violent until it was restored to him ; and although he was quite willing from the first to act in accordance with tho wishes of the constable, he strongly resented any interference on the part of either Mr. Hodgson or Mr. Hunter, who accompanied him to the hospital. Here, at his request, Constable Hobson remained for a short time with him. Ho was quite conscious, but mado no further reference to his reasons for attempting to take his life. At first the medical gentlemen had very little hopes of Gray's recovery, believing that the wound was fatal, but subsequently he was seen by Dr. Erson at the Hospital and the case did not then appear to be quite hopeless, as it was found tnat only a branch, not the main carotid artery had been severed. Since his admission to the Hospital Gray has remarked to the attendants that he was sorry he had not succeeded in his attempt, and that if he recovered he would as soon as he was at liberty,' do for himself with dynamite." It appears that Gray has frequently threatened to kill himself. On the previous night he went to his eldest son and asked for a shilling which he received, and he then told him he was going .to cut his throat, but his son did not believe he was in earnest and took no notice, and so they parted. On the morning of Saturday he called his youngest son Walter, a youth about 16 years of age. He told him ho was going to cut his throat, but as he had frequently heard him make similar threats he took no notice of the remark, and his father soon afterwards went away to carry his design into effect in the manner related above. We learn from Dr. Erson, who visited Gray at the Hospital yesterday evening, that the wound broke out again on Saturday night and commenced bleeding, but the hemorrhage was quickly stopped, and he is now progressing favourably. Dr. Erson thinks there are • chances for his recovery. Gray is in the D.T. ward, and is closely watched. He has, it appears, been drinking for some time, and his threats to make away with himself render constant watchfulness necessary.