The Sun. — 1825-09-02 (London, England)

LARAT.L.—During the business before the sitting Magistrate, Mr. Alderman ATKINS, at this Justice-room, yesterday, Elliman, one of the beadles of St. Dunstan's parish, brought in a middle-aged man of very respectable appearance, whose hand had providentially been arrested in the very act of attempting to destroy himself. Mr. Alderman ATKINS, understanding the nature of the affair, directed the unfortunate gentleman to be brought to the table, and the beadle then stated, that about half an hour before, he was called from his house by some .persons *ho told him that a man had attempted to destroy himself in the passage leading from Fleur-de-kis-court into Fetter-lane, directly opposite to Clifford's-inn. He ran thither immediately, and saw the gentleman in the care of another very respectablelooking gentleman, the latter of whom said that he had at that instant seized the prisoner's hand in the very act of attempting to cut his throat with a razor, and he (Elliman) saw the fatal instrument then in the prisoner's hand. He seemed dreadfully agitated, and did not deny that he was about to destroy himself. The gentleman then delivered him into his care, and he accordingly brought him to the office. The unfortunate gentleman stated to the Magistrate that his name was John Brown Eyton ; that he was by profession a portrait and landscape painter, and that his work had for many years appeared in the annual exhibitions at Somerset-house; that he resided at No. 13, Fetter-lane, and that he had a wife and two children, whom he had heretofore been enabled, from his success in his profession, to support in comfort and respectability ; but that latterly he had been unfortunate and unsuccessful, and his earnings had been very inconsiderable. Instgad of consoling him under this affliction, his wife was continually upbraiding him for his poverty and the- want of those comforts they had formerly enjoyed, which not only increased the evil by depriving him of that complacency of mind necessary for the successful pursuit of his business, hut had actually driven hint to desperation. Such had been the case that morning, and he bad just left his-house, and should most certainly have destroyed himself; but for the interposition of the gentleman, as Elliman had described. _  Mr. Alderman ATKINS addressed the gentleman with much feeling upon the enormity of the offence he was about to com- • mit, and as a return to his wife in his present state of agitation might probably lead to a repetition-of the rash act, he directed him to be taken care of at the fliltspur-street Compter till the next day. 31r. Eyton appeared grateful for the humane attention shor;n him, and readily submitted to the arrangement suggested by the Alderman. After he had been removed from the bar, the Alderman directed the • beadle to call upon Mrs. Eyton, put her in posseSsion of the circumstances that had occurred, and request her • attendance when her husband should next he brought up. Elliman bowed his obedience to the Magistrate's orders, but observed that he feared • she would be hut little affected by what hvtl occurred, as her husband in coming to the office had opened his mind more at large to him than he had done before the Magistrate. He told him, that amidst her upbraid. ings that morning, she bid him go and hang himself or cut his throat ; and at the same time actually put the razor into his hand: and in the desperation which her irritating language had occasioned, he ran out of the house instantly determined to do as she bid him. Elliman mentioned that the gentleman who had prevented Mr. Eyton from committing the rash act, observed that that was the second instance in which he had been the means of preventing suicide that 'morning, for Halle was passing near the Tower at an early hour, he saw a respectable man throw him. self into the Thames ; he immediately gave the alarm, assistance was procured, and the man's life was saved.