The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-09-08 00:00:00

SHOCKING ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE.

On Sunday last, a young gentleman, named Dutton, aho ..e-
-' copied apartments at the house of Mr. T. ilrercton. in the Edgware- •
road, attempted to put a period to his existence, under the follow.
in distreseing circumstances :
Hr. Dutton, is, it scone, a native of the North of Ireland, where
his .eunnexions are highly respectable. tieing designed for the
legal profession, he was entered of the Middle Temple, about two
years ago, but unfortunately black letter was less attractive than
belle knees, and its cemcomitant fascinations. Possiessed of an
ardent imagination, with a generosity of temper verging towards
folly, Mr. Dutton eagerly plunged into the enjoyment of almost
i every species of dissipation. Excessive indulgence never fails to
I bring with it properttonate expenses, so that in a short time the
1 young gentleman found himself incumbered with such a weight of
debt, that he could see no prospect of escaping a prison, but
through the immediate intervention of friends, to some of whom he,
directly applied, as creditors became pressing ; he gave an explicit
of
statementhis embarrassment, and urged the peculiarity of his
• situation, as a plea for this unexpected demand for pecuniary as-
I sistancc. The answer returned to those letters were. it seems, not
such as lie bad vainly anticipated ; they brought angry reproof,
friendly admonition, good advice, everything hut money, which,
In a disease of this description.; is generally found the
most successful physician. As his prospects darkened with
1 this cloud, Mr. Dutton gave himself up to the guidance of
fate, Mid plunged still deeper into the vortex of dissipation,
in order, if pinanisle, to ameliorate the goading reflections of a mind
at enmity with itself, For sonic time the stroke of fate was with-
held, by the exercise of the nutuberlesa stratagems which suggest
themselves to a needy man beset by craving duna; but it fell at
last, in the shape of an execution for a very considerable sum of
money, for the payment of which there was no provision. The
consequence was a common one, the unhappy young man being
thrown into the Fleet; but the subsequent events produced by that
eircumstauce are happily not so familiar to us. While in confine-
; ment he gave way to the moat pitiable despondency, which so sen-
sibly ailieted his intellectual powers, that the doctors declared, an.
less same very speedy means were adopted to edict his liberation
from prison, a total derangement of the mental powers must heti.
bly take place. In this paintul dilemma a friend came forward,
who generously settled the demand, and the unconscious invalid was
transferred to his present apartments ; but unfortunately the inter-
position came too late—extreme irritation of mind produced a high
fewer, during which the already-tottering seat of reason received a
complete overthrow. In this state he lingered for nearly a month,'
still soothed by the unabated efforts of true friendship, together'
with the best medical aid. .As the disorder was apparently coil.
quered, some faint hopes were entertained of a general amend."
men' of mental as well as bodily health, by change of scene,
&e. ; but these fond anticipations have been sadly blighted.
On Sunday molting, after having drank some soda water, he corn.
plained of dmaidecas, and bugged the florae (with that craft pe. I
euliar to insanity)• to quit the room for an hour or two, when the
doom was expected. The woman made no hesitation in comply.
ing, as she believed be really did need repose, having slept little
the previous night. The physician generally nuule his visit at one
o'clock, but, on this occasion, it so happened that he was com-
pelled, by other claims, to call an hour earlier. The street-door
was opened by a servant, and the doctor walked directly to the sick
room, which hs found fast. The nurse appeared, and stated the re-
quest of the invalid, but was • qually surprised and terrified on
finding the door locked within. The truth flashed on the minds of
both at once--the door was forced open, and a dreadful spectacle
presented itself to their view : the unfortunate young man was
stretched on the tloon dose to the bed-side. literally steeped in his
own blood, which flowed rapidly from a deep wound in the neck;
life was test verging to a close, but as the pulse still feebly throb-
bed, prompt means were adorted to stop the hemorrhage. which
was with difficulty effected, as some of the principal blood-vessels
were cut through. However, by the most anxious care, animation
was one,' more restored ; but, in consequence of the exhausted
strength of the patient, together with the excessive loss of blood, it
is not expected that he will survive many days. At the opposite
aide 0:. the room lay the instrument of destruction (a small dessert
knife), which was evidently flung away in the first agonies : it was
blood-stained nearly two inches in depth ; the point had been evi-
dently placed so as to sever the carotid artery, but happily it missed
not only that vessel, but the jugular also. which it slightly
dglanced. and perforated the glands. The orifice was parallel, and
id not exceed the exact breadth of the knife-blade, so that it was
a stab, not a cut, and mada with the left hand, which may account
for the uncertain direction of the instrument. The young gentle.
man is at present under the care of Surgeons Emery and Davis.
It is not a little remarkable, that since the attempt his intellects
(so far as may be discovered in the general feebleness of his present
state) have assumed a more decisive and regular tone ; but this is
by no means a favourable omen.
We have nor once violated private feeling in the narration of the
above particulars, as the publication is sanctioned, with the view of
atfonleug a deep lesson to others similarly situated.