SINGULAR OCCURRENCE ON A RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9124, 4 August 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

SINGULAR OCCURRENCE ON A RAILWAY.

A gextlkmax of independent means, named Francis Ismay Nicholson, was brought before Mr. Stewart Macnaghten, chairman of the county magistrates for the Southampton Division, at the County Hospital, Winchester, under extraordinary circumstances. Nicholson, a finely-built man of about 50, was married in February at Kensington to a lady several years his junior. They came to Southampton, and appear to have lived very happily, but latterly Nicholson was much depressed, telling his wife he feared whether his wishes in regard to her would be carried out after he was gone. She persuaded him to go to the Isle of Wight for a change, and the other day they left Southampton West in a first-class compartment for Stokes Bay. The wife states that shortly before reaching Botley Station her husband put his arm innately round her neck, and then saying lie thought it would be best to put her out of the miseries of this world and those hanging over . her, attempted to throttle h'-r with his hand. She screamed and became unconscious. On the train reaching Dot ley the carriage door was found open, and Mrs. Nicholson was dragged out in an exhausted condition, bleeding from the nose or mouth and apparently seriously injured. Her story being told, a gang of men went up the line, and presently found Nicholson in a ditch, much cut about the head, insensible, and covered with mud. After being attended by Dr. Pern, of Botley, he was removed to the hospital at Winchester, accompanied by his wife, and remains under treatment. The house surgeon states that the wounds on the head will not endanger life, provided care and skill are used. When before the magistrate Nicholson appeared much depressed. The wife does not prefer any charge against him. She says he musthave acted in a fit of insanity, and she speaks of his conduct generally as exceptionally kind. Nicholson was remanded j for a week.