The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-19 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SUICIDE.—John Con-
nor, a man about 22 years of age, who had somewhat the
appearance of being mad, was charged with attempting to
commit suicide.

Herbert Skinner, 278 B, said last night at half-past 11
I was called to 16, Gray's .Inn-place, Hendon-street, Pim-
lico, to take the prisoner, into custody for attempting to
commit suicide. I found him naked, and being held by his
father and brother, and a scarf had just been taken from his
neck. He said he meant to do it ; he had tried to commit
suicide three times previously, and would do it if he waited
any length of time. I took him to the station, and he at-
tempted to kill himself twice there.
Henry Salisbury, 330 B, said—l was at Pimlico station
at 12 o'clock last night, when the prisoner was brought in.
I conveyed him to the cells and left him for a few minutes.
I went back in consequence of something I heard, and
found prisoner lying on his back in the middle of the cell,
with his brace tied tightly round his neck. I struggled
with the prisoner, who tried to choke himself, and at last
got the brace away from him, and left him to report what
I had seen to the inspector in charge, and I was ordered to
look after him all night. I returned to the cells soon
afterwards, and found prisoner with his stockings tied
round his neck. He said if he didn't do it then he would
do it at a future time, and that he had tried it three times
before.

Prisoner said nothing to the charge, and his father said
ho had been indulging in drink, and supposed that was the
cause.

Mr. Arnold remanded him for a week in order that he
might be examined.

THAMES.

THE WIDOW AND HER SWAlN.—Frederick Archard, a
young man, dwelling at No. 25, Christian-street, George-
in-the-East, appeared before Mr. Paget, to answer a sum-
mons taken out by Mrs. Jones, of 7, Cornwall-street, in the
same parish.
a.
_a

The account given of herself by the complainant was
that she was 23 years of age, that she had been married
six years, and a widow two years. She became acquainted
with the defendant about 15 months ago, and their inti-
macy resulted in the birth of a child, born on the 11th of
February last. She was asked her ago when married, to
which she replied 15. The child in her arms was the first
to which she had given birth. She was asked if she had
any corroborative evidence, to which she replied
by handing to the magistrate several letters in
envelopes. They were all directed to Mrs. Jones,
No. 21 (now No. 7), Cornwall-street, St. George-in--
the-East, and signed F. Archard, 25, Christian-street.
Some of them commenced, "My lovely Young Widow."
One was read by the magistrate as follows :
"January 11, 1865.—1 n answer to your note I write you
these few lines, to express myself. relating to my manly
action, as you call it. You must recollect, my dear Mrs.
Jones, that there is as much blame attached to you as my-
self, therefore, as you have shared in the sweets, you must
expect to put up with a portion of the sours. I told you
when I saw you last that I would help to support you and
the child. I will be able to give you 3s. per week, but I
should not be able to pay any more. I don't see any need
for you to go to the parish whatever, but you must please
yourself. Please let me know by letter whether you will
accept this. Yours for ever and a day, FREDERICK An-
CHARD, 25, Christian-street."

Mr. Paget asked the defendant if the letter was in his
handwriting, to which ho replied in the negative, and
called a man who got into the witness-box and said that
the letter was not written by the defendant.
Mr. Paget—Who wrote the letter ?
Witness—Not the defendant.
Mr. Paget—Who wrote that letter ?
Witness—l wrote the letter.
Mr. Paget—At whose request ?
Witness—The defendant asked me to write the letter.
Mr. Paget commented on the disgraceful conduct of the
defendant, who had made an attempt to deceive him. He
adjudged the defendant to be the father of the complain-
ant's child, and to pay 2s. 6d. per week for its future main-
tenance.