Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1890-03-22 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AGAINST MR DENNISON. The adjourned trial of Thee. Dennison for attempted suicide on the sth of February, and for alleged aidMg and abetting of certain frauds, was resumed on Thursday at the Darlington Police Court, before the Mayor (Councillor J. A. Pease) and Dr. Fotherg ill. Mr T. M. Barron again prosecuted, and Mr Jaynes defended. Dennison entered the Court about fifteen minutes before the hour fixed for the proceedings, in company with his two sureties, Messrs Hobson and Clarke, and sat in a seat immediately behind the dock until the opening of the Court. Be looked much better. The charge of attempted suicide was the first to be gone into. An argument ensued between the Clerk, Mr Barron, and Mr Jaynes as to the completion of the .case, Mr Jaynes wanting to cross-examine all the witnesses—Mr Barron objected, and said the ease was only adjourned for completion.—Mr Jaynes said he would like to put a question to the doctor, and he hoped the Bench would not object. Leave having been given, he asked Dr. Heine; the witness, as to what was the defendant's state of health, and the witness replied that he had been suffering for some time from a torpid liver. In answer to Mr Barron, the doctor stid he few nothing about the defendant which lea him {o indicate that the defendant would Attempt to take his own life. Mr Jaynee then addressed the Bench for the defence on the charge of attempted suicide. He said he had no doubt that that which the defendant was charged with was an offence against the law. It was true they had the power to sand I him for trial, or dismiss him, or require him Ito come up for judgment when milled upon. Before the defendant was sent for trial the Bench would have to be satisfied that the defendant was for his own ac:t•iisag at We 4rue hat he  ifeSP"O°  committed the deed. There was no doubt that great frauds had boon committed by the defendant's predecessor in office, and there VISA no doubt that the defendant had some knowledge that such was the case, and there was no doubt that for some time past the defendant's state of mind was frightful. lie asked the Bench to bind the defendant over in his own recognisances to come up for judgment wl en called upon, which would be amply sufficient punishment. Mr Barron urged that there was no authority for the Bench to take the course with regard to the prisoner vrlsich Mr Jaynes asked them to do. The question was whether a public offence had been committed, and if so whether the prisoner was in such a condition that a judge woald allow him to go before a jury for trial. He did not think Mr Jaynes would have ventured to raise such a defence as he had now raised before a tribunal competent to deal with ' the case, because if he established his point as to the alleged condition of the prisoner's mind it would nece--eitate his confinement in a criminal lunatic asylum during Her Majesty's pleasure. The Chairman: We take the offence as clearly proved, and we commit the prisoner for trial at the Quarter Sessions. ,  Bail was allowed, with the same sureties as before.  It wag stated that the Sessions will be held on Easter Monday. The witnesses were then bound over to appear at the trial.