OHEHUNGA POLICE COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9032, 19 April 1888, Page 3

OHEHUNGA POLICE COURT.

Wednesday. [Be Tore Messrs. Thomas Ball and J. Robinson, J.P.'s.] I Attempted Suicide. —Peter O'Dowd was charged, on the information of the Police, that he did, on the l'2th instant, unlawfully, and with intent to take his life, take a quantity of deadly poison, viz., laudanum, and the heads of a number of phosphorus matches. Edward O'Dowd, a son of accused, deposed to seeing him taking the laudanum. He knew it was laudanum, as he had seen the bottle on the table, and the egg-cup • from which he had , drunk -the poison. He asked his father what hejwaa doing. y He did nob answer him, but. got up and walked about.. The accused then took something from his waistcoat pocket, and put it in his mouth. Witness then saw, smoke coming from his father's mouth, and concluded he had eaten the heads of matches. On searching the pockets of accused he found about a dozen matches with the heads ofl'. He then gave the alarm to his mother, who immediately despatched a messenger for Dr. Scott.

Prior to taking the laudanum hi father, called him : upstairs and told him to fetch some writing material, as he intended to sign over 60 acres of land. Witness took up the paper to please him. Recused had been drinking previously. Dr. W. G Scott deposed to being called to see the accused, whom he found lying on the verandah .at , his house. He seemed stupid, his pupils were contracted, and he was unable to answer. any questions His face was pale and cold, and his breath smelt strongly of »phosphorus. Antidotes were administered. On enquiry witness found that accused had taken about half an ounce of laudanum, that amount being sufficient to destroy life when taken in one dose. He was also shown the wax ends of matches which had evidently been chewed. He estimated that sufficient phosphorus had been taken to produce death. Although accused appeared to recover, he thought it better to send him to the Hospital. He afterwards heard that accused had frequently threatened to commit suicide. Sergeant Green also gave evidence. On being asked by the Bench if he had any questions to ask, accused made a statement concerning his domestic troubles, and craved the mercy of the Bench. After dwelling on the serious nature of the charge, the Court bound the accused over to keep the peace for six months, himself in a sum of £20 and two sureties of £10 each.