The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1908-09-23 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

SUICIDAL TENDENCY  DEPRESSED MAN'S FOUR ATTEMPTS.  Two cases of alleged attempted suicide came before the Mayor and Alderman Bloor at the Borough Police Court on Monday, in addition to a similar case heard on Saturday. In one case, George Lewis, aged 93. of 40. Harrowby-road, was charged with having attempted to commit suicide on the 18th inst., by inhaling gas. Charles Price, a Corporation labourer. of 38, Harrowby-road (next door to the prisoner's house), stated that last Wednesday afternoon, about four o'clock, prisoner's wife came and told him that she could not get into her house, although she had the key. He tried the door, and also knocked, but got no answer, and then he got a long bamboo and tapped the front bedroom window. The prisoner, in a few minutes, came down and opened the door, and his wife went in. Witness went back to his own house, but in a short time Mrs. Lewis again called him. • He went into prisoner's house (Mrs. Lewis going for a policeman), and smelt gas strongly. Running upstairs, he found the front bedroom door shut, but not locked, and going in he found the prisoner in bed, helpless. and  THE ROOM FULL OF GAS, the gas bracket haying been screwed off. The gas was turned full on. Witness at once turned off the gas, threw the window wide open, and carried the prisoner ova" to the window, and began to use artificial respiration. Prim Mer could not speak at that time.  Martha Smith Lewis, prisoner's wife, said they had been living at 40, Harrowby-road for ten weeks. Prisoner was engaged on the Mersey Railway, when working. He had been suffering for some time from his liver and kidneys and in other ways, and had been in bed for a week prior to the 16th inst. Witness had to go out on that day. but was not out long. When she returned the front door was bolted inside. It was then she called Mr. Price. On going into the house she noticed a strong smell of gas. Her husband had gone back upstairs, and seeing he looked dazed, she went and called Mr. Price again, and she ran for a policeman.  In answer to questions put by the Magistrates' Clerk (Mr. Copeland) and Superintendent Parker, the witness admitted that about 18 months ago, when living in Whitford-road, the prisoner made a similar attempt upon his life with gas. He became unconscious then, and was ill for three weeks, but no doctor was called in, and the police were not informed., She thought he did it through illness. About three years ago he ATTEMPTED TO DROWN HIMSELF, and afterward, said "he could not drown; he was too good a swimmer." On Monday evening in last week he went to New Brighton. and came home about 11 o'clock at night with his legs wet, and said he had tried to drown himself. The next day (Tuesday) he said if he had a revolver he would shoot her and the children. There was nothing to lire for but poverty." P.C. Orford (23C) deposed to being called to the house, and to assisting Price to cari7 the prisoner out into the yard, where artificial respiration was continued, and the prisoner was afterwards taken to the Borough Hospital in the ambulance. That (Monday) morning witness formally charged the prisoner, who replied "I have nothing to say." . .  Dr. T. Burrell, who received the prisoner at the Borough Hospital, deposed that he (prisoner) was then suffering from coal gas poisoning, but had recovered consciousness. Later on he had several talks with the prisoner, who told him that for two years he had had great pain in his back, and suffered from sleeplessness, and had not had regular work. Lately (he said) he had had regular work, but "was not satisfied with his share of