SUICIDE ATTEMPTED

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1935, Page 10

SUICIDE ATTEMPTED

YOUNG HAWERA MAN CHARGED. QUARREL WITH YOUNG WOMAN. When Roye W. Stevens, Hawera, was told by a young woman with whom he had formerly kept company that she wanted to have nothing further to do with him he declared “There is one way out.” Some time later he dragged himself up the steps of the Hawera Brewery Company building in High Street and told the nightwatchman he had shot himself. . These circumstances were related, by Sergeant Henry in the HAwera court yesterday, when Stevens was charged before Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., with attempting to commit suicide and with being in possession- of firearms without a license. He was convicted and discharged by Mr. Woodward on the charge of attempted suicide and fined £2, costs 10s, on the other charge. ■ Stevens, walking with a stick, appeared in court and pleaded guilty to both charges. The facts were briefly outlined by Sergeant Henry, who said the revolver with which Stevens shot himself was used by his father in the war. The father had a license and was desirous of keeping the weapon as a souV Stevens, when sentenced, was counselled by Mr. Woodward to remember that overwhelming troubles would disappear in six months, owing to his youth. Stevens gave an undertaking not to attempt suicide again. . On April 6, said the sergeant, Stevens had seen a young woman with whom he was keeping company but with whom he had quarrelled, and asked her if she had altered her mind. She told him that she intended having nothing further to dp with him. Stevens told her that it was of no use staying in the town and that there was one way out. About 2.15 a.m. the next day, the nightwatchman at the Hawera . brewery heard P knock on the door, and going outside found Stevens'. told him that he had shot himself at Naumai Park. Dr. A. M. Young was called and Stevens was taken to the Craigholm private hospital, where the bullet was extracted. Dr. Young informed the police. Stevens had been in business on his own account for 10 months, was 21 years of age and had apparently ho worries. The revolver was fully loaded, except for one shell case, and was a .45 calibre weapon used by Stevens’Mather in the Great War. : ' Stevens’ father, making application for retention of the revolver, said his son was run down arid had worked long hours just before the mishap. “You will not attempt to do this again, I hope,” said the magistrate. “No/* said Stevens. ; .' “You should realise, Stevens,” continued Mr. Woodward, “what inestimable value your very youth is. Troubles which appear to-day overwhelming will in six months be not worth a snap of the fingers. Your life is before you.” “I do npt intend to inflict a penalty,” the magistrate continued. “I never have in- such cases, and I will not now. The accused will be convicted and discharged on . the charge of attempted suicide, and fined £2, costs 10s, on the charge of taking his father’s revolver.” After consideration Mr. Woodward decided to allow Stevens’ father to retain the revolver.

HAWERA CIVIL CASES. . JUDGMENTS BY MAGISTRATE. Judgment for defendant was given by Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., in the following undefended civil heard at the Hawera court yesterday: E. T. Simon v. W. King, £5 IBs 6d (costs £2 13s 6d); Para Rubber Company v. R, G. Gilberd, £1 2s 3d (l(te); Spragg and Son v. E. A. Tingley. £1 ; 7s (18s); West Coast'Refrigerating Company .Ltd. v. J. T. H. Colman, £ll (£2 Is); L. M. Pope v. Jerry Hokapara, £8 Ils 6d (£1 19s 6d); R. J. O’Dea v. I. D, Billows, £1 12s (8s); R. J. O’Dea v. J. Bryant, 10s 6d (12s); George Cook v. R. R. Rees, £1 7s 6d (8s); J. Edmondston v. E. D. Gileson, £4 13s (£1 31s 6d); F. C. Binns v. Aka Mahii, £2 17s (£1 12s 6d). On judgment summons C. H. Dudding was ordered to pay T. Hobbs £2 7s, in default three days’ imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended on payment of £1 a month. C. R. Walker was ordered to pay Edward Kirby £1 14s Bd, in default three days’ imprisonment. Tupito Maruera was ordered to pay Goldstone and Patterson Ltd. £9 7s 7s (solicitor’s fee 15s 6d), in default seven days’ imprisonment, the .warrant to be suspended on payment of £2 a month. A. J. Mischefski was ordered to pay the Farmers’ Co-op. Organisation Society Ltd. £7 15s (solicitor’s fee 15s 6d) within 30 days, in default seven days’ imprisonment. KING'S JUBILEE AT MANAIA. EXPENSES AMOUNT TO £BO. a! final meeting of the Manaia Silver jubilee committee was held on Thursday. There were present Messrs. L. C. Harrison (chair), L. A. Walters, E. Long, F. Mourie, W. Welham, S. le Fleming, O. T. Parry and A. Elkington and the secretary and organiser, Mr. F. A. Nelson. Expenses amounted to £BO. Mr. E. Long complimented the organiser and secretary. The secretary was granted an honorarium of £8 Bs. The chairman ■ thanked all officials for the way in which they ran the sports programme, the women’s committee and members of the Hawera Red Cross Society. A vote of thanks was accorded. Mr. F. Mourie for his generosity in placing the use of his car at the convenience of the secretary, Mr. A. H. Yarrow for providing afternoon tea to members of the committee, officials, the Manaia Municipal Band and the Press. A vote of .thanks was accorded the chairaian.

KAPONGA TO-NIGHT. RICHARD DIX IN “ACE OF ACES.” Richard Dix's histrionic flair for portraying vigorous he-man characters is said to receive its fullest expression in his new RKO-Radio Picture, “Ace of Aces,” a gripping drama sketching realistically the transformation of a war ace from pacifist to killer. ( Ace of Aces, which features Elizabeth Allan and-Ralph Bellamy in important supporting roles, was written by John Monk Saunders, noted aviator and celebrated writer of “Wings” and “The Dawn Patrol.” Saunders’ story presents Dix as Lieut. Rex Thorne, ranking ace in the American Air Service. Pacifistic at the outbreak of the World War, Rex becomes a relentless killer. Trained for death, he realises he cannot - face life after war, and decided to seek a way out in an unusually dramatic manner.