ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18248, 5 August 1921, Page 8

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

A SENSATIONAL AFFAIR. POLICE BURST OPEN DOOR. CONSTABLE AVERTS FATAL BLOW. A determined attempt to commit suicide was made at Onehunga on Wednesday afternoon by a young man named Edward George Metcalfe, a seaman, 18 years of age. The facts were revealed in the Onehunga Police Court this morning when Metcalfe appeared before Mr J. Lakin*, J.P., charged with theft. Sergeant J. Cruickshank stated that Metcalfe lived in a room detached at the back of a residence in Upper Queen Street, Onehunga. About two o’clock yesterday afternoon he locked himself in his room, where he remained until tea time. He refused to go to tea when called, and said he would be dead when the door was opened. The police were summoned, and Sergeant Cruickshank and Constable Percy Felton went up. They found the door locked and Metcalfe refused to open it. They burst the lock, and found the door was barricaded inside. While the door was ajar and the police were trying to get it wide open Constable Felton could see Metcalfe inside, standing with a shoemaker’s kniwe in his right bp,nd, the latter in an upright position and slowly descending with the blade pointing towards his heart. Before the point of the blade touched the man’s skm Constable Felton succeeded in squeezing through the aperture, ana grabbed Metcalfe’s right hand, giving it a backward twist, which caused the knife to fall on to the floor. The blade had been recently sharpened, and had an edge on it like a razor, especially at the point. Another large pocket-knife, also very sharp, was lying on the bench. Upon searching the room the police found a cashbox, containing the sum of 11/1, afterwards identified by Mr Rose (who lives in the house adjoining) as his property. Metcalfe told the police that he intended to suicide because he knew there would be trouble over the money. He was ai rested and locked up. He further stated that he had been out of work for seven weeks, ever since he arrived in Auckland from Sydney by the Ihumata. A son of Mr Rose camo over by the same steamer and acted the good Samaritan to Metcalfe when the latter was without home and money, giving nlm food, and allowing him to sleep in the spare room.

In support of Metcalfe's intention to commit suicide, he told the police where they would find a letter outside the room, addressed to Mr Rose. The letter was written on a piece of wallpaper, and read .as follows:—*‘Mr Rose, —I have been a dirty cad. I wanted a smoke badly. I had no money, and I thought I would take 7d out of Jack’s box, but you came home before 1 had time to put the box back, so now I am such a dirty cad I am going to end my dirty tricks here and now. It is the first time I have done anything like this, so b * ore I do any more I’m going to use the knife, so will you let my father know what has taken place. His address is ‘Schofield Street, Grey Lynn.’ Tell the others what a thief I have been. Tell my father I owe for some board, and he will pay it for me. Also tell them to write to Sullivans. I thank you for your kindness to me.— (Signed) Ted." When Metcalfe appeared before the Court next morning he was charged with the theft of a moneybox containing 11/1, the property of Mr Rose.

Sergeant Cruickshank (prosecuting) .said he thought it would not be right to convict Metcalfe under the circumstances, and, at his request, the defendant was remanded for seven days to Mt. Eden gaol for medical observation and treatment.