ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8862, 21 July 1890, Page 3

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

At tho sitting of the Police Court on Saturday, the young man Edwin Fovvler Palmsr, who appeared to be still suffering from the effects of his recent rash act, was charged with attempting to commit suicide by Bhootiing himself with a revolver on the 3rd of July. Iho bench was occupied by Messrs G. L. Denniston and 11. Wilson, J.P.'s. Mr Solomon appeared for the accused.

He Solomon admitted the fucts of the case ; hut he could not formally plead guilty, ks it wa3 necessary for evidence to be taken. He would not put any obstacle in the way.

Mrs Mary Palmer Clark, a sister of accused, gave evidence as to biing out with her bro'her on the evening of the :ird. He left her at the corner of Walker and Melville streets, and next saw him at Mr Gray's house, after he wa3 wounded. He was taken on a etretoliT to her house, wtiere he was attended to by Dr Jtffeuafc au.l Dr Ooughtrey. Her brother had just returned from Sydney on the Monday previous. Sne did not uotice anything wrong with him, but he did not eat much, and complained of pains in his head. In cross-examination witness said her brother was \'ery sorry indeed for the net. At the time ho whs very despondent. liobert Gray gave evidence to the effect that Palmer went to the houfe where witness resided wlih his parents about 7.15 on the 3rd. Witness hearing the door belt riug as he wes in the passage want to the door and i&w Palmer, who asked to see witness' sister. Witness asked Palmer to enter the house but he declined. Just after witness returned to I he ro«m and mentioned the fact that a gentleman wished to ccc his sister he heard a shot fired, and on going out found Palmer etretched on tbe floor of the passage. A gentleman who was in the home at-t-nded to Palmer while witness ran for medical assistance, and shortly afterwards Ur Jeffcoat and then Dr Coughtiey arrived. Palmer after being attended to wa3 taken home on a stretoher nt his own request. In cross examination witness stated that Palmer had been very friendly with the family for some years and had besa paying attention to witi.ess sister, but beftra Palmer went to Sydney there had been a breach of the friendly relations between Palmer and tho tister of witness, and Palmer seemed to be a good deil cut up about it. Dr F O. Jeffcoat deposed that he went to Mr Gray's house on tbe 3rd inst. in response to a telephone me3?age, and saw Palmer lying 6tretchcd out fu'i length in tbe psssn^s, looking excited, and breathing fast, but not nppearins? tu be suffering great p :iu. There was a black patch on tbe 1-sft frout of lii 3 auirt, below the region of the heart. In the cintral portion of the black natch there was a cleanly ranched circular hole, which, on examination, iroved to be a bullet wound. No blood was issuing rom the wouud. mid from that, and other circumstances witness judge! that tbe bullet had missed the heart. A superficial eearch showed that the bullet was under thf skin about sin or Gin away from the ribs. On Dr Cougbtrey's arrival, the bullet was extracted Witness took posae sion of tho revolver produced and lmudetl it over to Sergeant Gearin. Jefore hts removal accused remarke.l that he had made a bad shot, but afterwards stated it was all an accident. In crossoxamination, Dr Jeffeoat said he bad attended falmer since the 3rd inst, and he was of opinion there was not the slightest danger of his repeating the act. If the b'lllet had entered the bxiy a very little higher up it would liare probably proved fatal. Honrv Piiimer said he waß the eldest brother of accused, who was 21! years old. Witness had been in constant communication with him ever since the accident, and he was quite right now. There was not the slightest daugeroi his doing the like again. Mr Solomon, in addressing the bench, Bald that their Worships would quite well see the nature of the affair. Tbe accused was a highly respectable young fellow, and so was his family, who had lived in town for a number of years. Mr Gray had clearly told the circumstances of tlio affair; how this love-sick young fool, because he had fallen out with bis sweetheart, attempted to take his life. In consequence of a breach of relationship witli tbo young lady, ha threw up all hisprospects in a good position and went to Sydivy, with a view of doing something there; but not succeeding, cams back to Dunedin. He hud an interview with Miss Gray, and as he could not get her to alter her decision, lio bad said he would Boon put an end to the matter. There were two courße» open to the court. They could commit nccused for trial to the Supreme Court, or they could discharge him. The ■voun" man was anxious to get aivay from tha scene of r-i "troubles, and rc-ke a iresh start elsewhere, and he would th-rtforo respectfully request the beuuh to discharge him. After a short conference tho Bench intimated that they were (lisp! sr-d to take Mr Solomon's view. They T.Mipvfid no yood would be attained by letting tsm matter go further. In the. full hope that no farther a'tampt of tlm kind would be made.and that this was thnend of tli« story, they resolved to discharge accused. t t

Antwerp te on the decline. Hamburg and Rotterdam are drawing off its commerce by lower port charges. It is wise to provide agsinst emergencies which are liable to ariso in every family. In sudden attacks of cold, croup, asthma, &c, a bottle of Ayer's Cherry Pectoral will prove a never-failing remedy,