The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1887-09-17 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT BEBI'NGTON.  At the County Police Court, on Thursday, before Messrs. T. Rowell Lee (in the chair), F. Thornely, Clarke Aspinall, S. Eddowes, and Dr. Stevenson, a respectably dressed middle aged man named William Mowat, a watchmaker and jeweller, of Bedford-road, Rock Ferry, was charge with being a lunatic wandering at large and not under proper control, and also with having attempted to commit suicide on the railway at Bebington. P.C. 132 (Cariiiigton) stated that about twelve o'clock on the 13th inst. he was on (buy at Lower Bebingtou Village when he saw the prisoner. He appeared to be suffering from the effects of drink. Ile saw him 6., into the Wellington and Rose and Crown public houses, at both of which places he asked for drink but was refused. The prisoner then went down and he (the officei) followed him and asked him where he wanted to go, and he replied "That is no business of yours; I shall go where I like." He afterwards said lie wanted to go to Chester. Be then sat down on the grass and when asked if he would go home lie refused. The prisoner subsequently said lie would go whcze he liked, and he took him to the New Perry Police Station when be obtained his name and address. The priaoner then asked to be allowed to go home, and luspector O'Donnell allowed him to go, the witness receiving instructions to watch him. Ile followed him along New Chester-road to Rock Ferry, and in abolii. twenty-five minutes he saw the prisoner on the railway, standing on the metals about 30D yards on the Chester side of the Bebington Station. A train was standing at the station, and the driver and guard were along with the prisoner. lie (the witness) and P.C. Thelwell ran on to the line as soon as they could, but before they got there the guard had put the prisoner in his van and the train had gone on to Chester„ _  By the Bench: He did not know whether the train came to a standstill in consequence of the prisoner going on the lino. It was a stopping train at Bebington, and was drawn up at its usual place, Continuing, the officer said that about a quarter-past five o'clock the prisoner was brought to the New Ferry Police Station by a Chester police constable. The prisoner was under the influence of drink when first he saw him.  Inspector Donnell stated that about two o'clock, on Tuesia,y afternoon, the prisoner was brought to the police station by Carrington, who preferred a charge of drunkenness against hum The prisoner was strongly under the influence of drink, and appeared to have been drinking spirits recently. He was quiet and capable of taking care of himself, so he allowed him to go, directing the policeofficer to keep an eyo on him. He appeared to be quite rational. On Thursday morning, he charged the prisoner with being a lunatic wandering at lame and not under proper control, to which he replied "That is wrong." He then charged him with having attempted to commit suicide by placing himself in front of a train. He replied "That is correct; I did intend to commit suicide, but I am now sorry." Dr. Main, of New Ferry, stated that on Wednesday afternoon, between four and live o'clock, he examined the prisoner. lie was then quite sober and rational, but ho found certain symptoms which made him cuechide that the prisoner had been drinking. He asked him why he had One such a wrong thing as to lay himself on the railway and he replied that it was owing losses in busineis and troubles. He (tht witness) then said to him that he thought drink had something to do with it, and he replied that he had taken a little to nerve himself up to the event. lie found no symptoms of insanity. The Prisoner: Would not smoking account for the symptoinq ? The Witness: No; I think not. The Prisrmer : Would indigestion account for them?  The Witness: So. The prisoner wiks remanded to Walton for seven days.