ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2168, 12 September 1895, Page 3

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

A youth named James Spence, who is 18ycarf of age, was lodged in the lock-up on Thursday night on a charge of attempted suicide. About 7.30 p.m., when several boys were playing together at the corner of Prince Edward road aud ftloreau street, in Sfc. Kilda, one of them named Peter Currio, aged 13, was called aside by Spenco, who told him he was goiDg to Farrell's store, which was about 600 yards away. When Spence returned he had a clothes line in his possession, and he handed Currie a note, asking him to give ib to his (Spense's) mother, who lives in Moreau street. Spence added, " Don't be in a hurry " ; but Currie docs not seem to have heeded this injunction, and Mrs Spance, who lives in Moreau street, was promptly handed the note. On being opened this was found to read, " If you come to the third or fourth gum you will find me dead. Look in pocket book." Another son of Mrs Spence happened to be in the house at the time, and the mother and son, with Mr Taylor, a neighbour, hastened to a row of gum trees, which are growing on the side of Prince Edward road, and on one of these they found James Speuce hanging by the rope from a limb of the tree, suspended by the neck, with his feet dangling about a yard from the ground. Taylor and the mother held the youth up co that there would be no strain upon the rope, and his -brother cut him down, little the worse for his exploit. The mark of the rope had left a streak upon his neck, but he cannot have been long suspended, and although medical aid was summoned it was . fotind to be unnecessary. The police having been informed, Sergeant Brown aud Constable Willis visited the mother's -house, where they found tho youth lying on a sofa, and at 8 30 p.m. he was fciken in custody on a charge of attempted suicide. Spcnoe pleaded guilty at the recent criminal sittings of the Supreme Court to a charge of horße-stealing and was admitted to probation on condition of his leaving Dunedin.