The Sun. — 1842-04-04 (London, England)

ANOTHER ATTEMPTED SUICIDE..'—AII intelligentlooking man, probably about seven-and-twenty years of age, named May, was next charged with attempting to commit self-destruction under the following circumstances :  Police-constable, F 91, said, that about half-past twelve o'clock last night he was on duty in Clare-street when he saw the prisoner in the act of taking some sugar of lead. He had seen the prisoner's wife just before that, and she had told him that hehad threatened to poison himself. when the prisoner applied the paper of poison to his mouth. Witness endeavoured to knock it out of his hand, and he succeeded in making him drop a considerable portion of it. He then took him to the hospital, where, however, he was not detained long ; the report from that institution being that the prisoner had been drinking, and had taken a little sugar of lean, but not enough seriously to injure him. He had been locked up  since. The prisoner, when called on for his defence, said, smilingly,- that "he was very sorry for his last night's conduct; he had been drinking, and had had a few words with his wife." Mr. Twvrorto—Well, I am very glad to see you f.miling, and you seem to be very happy that you were prevented from committing the foolish act you contemplated. I hardly know how to deal with such a case ; some magistrates think it proper to commit such persons. The prisoner's father, however, here came forward, and, as in the previous case, into his hands was the foolish young man delivered. These cases excite a great deal of disgust in the breasts of all well-feeling people, who know that in nine cases out of ten, they are only attempted with no more serious object in view than to work upon the feelings of some poor, weak female, or unfortunate parent. No act can betray greater cowardice than, by unnatual means, to attempt to escape from the trials and troubles of this life, to which " all flesh is heir."  A country girl, about 20 years of age, named Ann Dunn, was charged with stealing a male child three weeks old, the son of a porter in Covent-garden Market, named Dawes. The particulars of the case have appeared in The Sun. ' The mother of the child stated that on the evening of the 20th of March she and her husband went into the Sugar Loaf public-house, in King-street, Drury-lane ; they sat in the tap-room. The prisoner came in soon after, accompanied by a soldier. They all drank together, and the prisoner took a great deal of notice of witness's child, and occasionally nursed it. Witness left the tap-room for a few minutes, leaving the infant in the prisoner's arms. On her return, she found that the prisoner had left the house and taken the child with her. Witness saw no more of her until Saturday, when both she and the child were brought to this Court. Mrs. Jane Hayward stated that she resided at Croydon. On Tuesday evening she saw the prisoner at Croydon, sitting on the shaft of a cart and crying, apparently in great distress. Witness put some questions to her, in answer to which she stated that the child was her own, and that she had just left Lambeth workhouse with it, because the guardians wanted to keep the child there and send her out to wet nurse. She afterwards admitted that the child was not hers, and, in consequence of the prevaricating accounts she gave of it, witness gave information to the police, having previously taken prisoner to the Anchor public-house, where she gave her some refreshment. -The policeman, who apprehended her, said she had admitted that the child was not her own, and said, that a woman had left it in her possession at a public-house in King-street, Drury-lane. The mother of the child left it with her in the tap room, 1 saying, aim she would return in a few minutes. That sh.l did not return, and that she (prisoner) being alarmed and not knowing what to do, took it to her mother to ask her advice. Her mother advised her to take it back to London, and endeavour to find out its parents ; and she was on her return to London, for that purpose, when she was apprehended. When seen by the witness, Mrs. Hayward, she had sat down on the shaft of a cart to rest herself, being very tired. She had no intention of stealing the child, and had taken every care of it ever since she had had it. She was fully committed for trial.