POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15496, 1 January 1914, Page 5

POLICE COURT NEWS.

SUICIDE CASES.

~ TWO CHARGES HELD OVER.

Two cases of attempted suicide came before Messrs. J. H. Muldoon and W. J. Hammill, J.P.'s. who occupied the Bench at the Police Court yesterday morning. The first c&sa.was that of Samuel Lawrence Freeman, a young* man, who was handed over to the police at Mercer on Tuesday last, on a charge of attempted suicide. Shortly after six o'clock - last. Tuesday morning he was found by a companion lying in his bedroom in a stupefied condition, ' with a small empty bottle by his side. The local constable was called in,, and administered an emetic, with the result --hat the young man eventually recovered consciousness.

He had been out from England only about two months, and of late has been a victim of insomnia, and was depressed and moody. Some of his recent actions have been strange, and on Monday last his bankbook was placed in a prominent posi* tion in his room,' together with a note concerning the disposal of the money. He was brought to Auckland, and this morning was charged with attempted suicide. At the suggestion of Inspector McGrath, ho was remanded for a week, to allow of medical observation.

| The second ease occurred at about halfpast ten on Tuesday night. Walter Jones, a seaman from the Clan Macfarlane, was walking along the waterfront when, im' mediately opposite the Sailors' Home, he heard someone call out, and saw a man standing on the edge of the seawall, outside the chains, evidently on the point of leaping into the water. He ran forward and grappled with the man, who freed himself, and dived into the water. Jones threw a buoy after him. but the man would not catch hold of it, but kept afloat by swimming. Assisted by Mr. A. P. Cowie, of the Seamen's Mission Jones made fast the buoy-line to him, and together they hauled the man up, and handed, him over to the police. On the way to the police station, the man, who gave his name as Andrew Stewart, said that he was tired of New Zealand, and had intended to take his life. At the Police Court this morning he pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempting to commit suicide, and was remanded for a week. ' DRUNKENNESS. Two first offenders were convicted and discharged, and Robert J. Sinclair, with a breach of his prohibition order, was-remanded for a wees.. MISCELLANEOUS. On charges of obtaining £20 from T. ' Marlcwick, £20 from Rosetta Wells, and £10 from Charles W. Dunmore, by means' of valueless cheques, Richard Ambrose Kelaher (32) was further remanded for a week. Eric Leslie Watkins, charged with obtaining £5 10s from W. H. Hamblin on Saturday last by means of a valueless cheque, was remanded for eight days, bail being fixed at two sureties of £50 each. Thomas Edwards and Richard Carpenter, on a charge of breaking and entering, on December 18, a dwelling occupied by Lilian Drinnan, and stealing therefrom a portmanteau, were further remanded for a week.