The Blackpool Herald. — 1892-10-21 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

THE EVILS OF DRINK. BPERATE ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE.  Another victim of drink was charged with a serious offence at the Blackpool Petty Sessions, second court, on Monday, before Jas. Fish, Esq., (in the chair), the Mayor (H. Buckley, Esq.,) and Bickerstaffe, Esq., The charge was one of attempting to commit suicide, preferred against John Thirkell, an ironworker on the Blackpool Tower. The facts as stated by Harry Wilcox, a fellow worker, living at 145, High-street, who lodged with Thirkell, were as follows. On Sunday, 2nd of Oct., the two went to Cleveleys, and during the walk they had three pints of beer. After tea they went out to the Wellington Hotel, where they had each two baths of the same beverage, afterwards going to the Brewer's Arms where they had two bitter beers each. At about nine o'clock they went home, both of course sober, and the prisoner in his usual health and spiria. They remained in the kitchen some time, and about quarter past nine the prisoner wound the timepiece up, and asked to be called early in the morning. About ten minutes afterwards witness followed him upstairs, and on going into the room fail him lying across the bed on his back, with his legs off the side of the bed and his head up to the wail, sawing away at his throat with a razor. Witness tried to take it from him, but could not, so he cried out and ran downstairs for assistance. William Hatcher, a labourer, called in and prevented prisoner from further injnrying himself by holding his wrist.. Dr. Buxton was summoned, and upon examination, found that he had cut the windpipe in two places, the lower one almost severing it in two. He was breathing through the opening, and not through his nose. He had lost about six ounces of blood.—The Chief Constable (Mr. Derham) said that he had left a constable in charge of the prisoner from the date of the °occurrence until the present time.—Thirkell told the magistrates that be had no recollection of what had occurred. On Sunday he did not feel " just the thing." He was lonesome, and after placing the clock at the head of the bed he weld not say what he did.—ln answer to the Chairman he said be was a widower and had one lad, who was living with his mother.—Mr. Bell, jun., with whom prisoner had worked, said that two years ago the man had an epileptic attack. He took drink in moderation.—The Bench recalled Wilcox, and asked him if they were really sober after drinking two quarts and a pint of beer, to which witness replied that he was el sober as he was then.—ln answer to a question from the Bench, Dr. Buxton said that the taking of beer would be dangerous to the prisoner.— Mr. Bell, eenr., sub-contractor of the Eiffel Tower, said prisoner had been employed by him for about eight or nine years, and he had found him a very steady man. If he Wit lefi in Ws me he would, take him to his home at Formby until he was strong.—Thirkell, who treated the charge with evident nonchalance, had to be reminded of his serious position by the Chairmen—The Chief Constable said that he had refused to give the names of his relatives, but on the advice of the magistrates prisoner was induced to write them on a piece of paper, which was handed to the Bench.—On promising to keep off drink, prisoner was discharged, being given over to the care of Mr. Bell, who undertook to look after him.