The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-02-11
Attempted suicide-No. a New Crime.

Attempted Euicide-Not q New Crime.
In the Court Of General Sessions last week
prisoner was convicted Of An attempt to
commit suicide, and was sentenced to i'm
prisonment for ono year. This was the first
case o. conviction fo7 this crime In New
York. The impression, however. that an at
tempt to commit suicide was not criminal
offence prior to tho enactment Of the Penal
Code Is erroneous. It was misdemeanor at
common law. and as such could have been
punished In this State In tho absence OF
statute on tho subject. Tho Penal Code
merely gives us statutory definition Of the
offence, and makes 1t felony instead Of q
misdemeanor.
At the Stafrordshire Spring Assizes In 1854
q prisoner was indicted for having unlaw-
fully attempted to commit suicide by hang
ing himself with his scarf. It APP
peared on the trial that he had led
q bad course OF life. was without
money or friends and had been drinking for
nine days before he thus tried to kill him
self. He stated to the Court that he did not
know what he was doing at the time Mr..
Justice WRIaHrMAN charged the jury that
the question for them to consider was whether
or not the prisoner had deliberate intention
to destroy his life; that they might take into
consideration the fact OF drunkenness, not as
anexcuse. but a. bearing upon the question
OF Intention; but that beyond all doubt tho
offence charged In tho indictment constituted
misdemeanOr at common law.
Tho verdict was guilty. and the defendant
wasSentenced to three months imprisonment.
II such was the common law OF England In
1854 1t was presumably the common law ON
April 10. Its. and the Constitution OF this
State preserves In force such parts OF the
common law as then formed . portion OF the
law Of the colony Of New York, which have
not since expired or been repealed or altered.
While. therefore, q criminal prosecution for
attempted suicide Is a novelty In fact, there
would seem to be no reason In law why such
prosecutions might not have boon instituted
at any time since New York became State.
It was q startling and intensely interesting
story that was told In the Kilmsinham Court
House yesterday by KAyANAaH. the carman.
who says he drove the assassins Of Lord FRED
ERIcK CAvKNDIsH and Mr. BURKE to Phoenix
Park. and witnessed part OF tho murderous
struggle. Whom first arraigned. 1t is said. the
prisoners laughed at the indictment Now they
are represented as being downcast and sullen
Tho proceedings against them have 30 far been
they are accused
The discussion Of the singular spot OF light
seen on the planet Venus by Prof. LANGLEY and
other observers In Pittsburgh at the beginning
OF tho recent transit is calling out some in
teresting theories. even II 1t has not yet re-
suited In any satisfactory conclusion. One
astronomer suggests that the light may have
been due to great auroral display on Venus
like those which tillumina ted the skies OF our
planet last spring and summer. Another thinks
was the result OF Irregularities In the ring Of
refractod light surrounding Venus caused by
tho presence OF great mass OF clouds in tho
atmosphere OF that planet All the explana-
items are based on the assumption that Venus
10 world very much like ours In many re-
spects. and this fact adds tenfold 10 the In
terest OF the discussion.
Tho Senate committees amendments to
the Army Appropriation bill include one which
is intended to avoid tho abolition OF the Pay
Corps. The substitute for the House measure
proposes TO allow the corps to diminish by
death. resignation. dismissal. or retirement.
until It shall have been reduced to the number
offOrty paymasters. at which number the corps
10 to be established. vacancies thereafter sub
sisting being filled By appointment Under q
system REORGANIZATION such as was prop osed
several years ago In Congress- there would BIO
no need OF any Pay Corps ut all. Its duties
could be perfectly we'll transacted by other OFF,
oors. Ono department. to DO known Us the Do
partment OF Supply. could amply perform all
the duties now divided among three. tho Quar-
termaster. the Commissary. and tho Pay De-
partments. The number OF officers could be
regulated BY the ascertained quantity OF aver
age annual work required. which ought. by this
A. IL.