The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1907-03-30 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.  At the Borough Police Court on Thursday, before Dr. 11. L. Pearson and Mr. J. H. Ziegler, a fireman named Henry Robert Eddy, of 6, Woburn-place, was charged with attempting to commit suicide by taking a quantity of laudanum. From the evidence it appeared that on Tuesday night the prisoner sent hia daughter, a girl of about 14, to buy some laudanum. stating that he wanted it to rub on his head for neuralgia. She tried to purchase some, but the chemists ref need to serve her. Her elder brother, tho is two or three years older, was then sent, and after several refusals he succeeded in getting two pennyworth of the poison. This he took to his father, who shortly afterwards sent him out for some , more. The lad went to a number of chemists and was refused at about Fix places, but he finally succeeded in getting four pennyworth more in two separate doses. This he also took to his father, and while he was leaving the room he saw his father, who was in bed, swallow one of the doses. Early on Wednesday morning the son heard his father call, and arrived at the latter's room just in time to nee his father, who looked very weak and ill, fall to the floor. He helped him into bed, and then his father told him to go downstairs for his razor. When he brought the razor the prisoner told him and his sister "to say their prayers as they could only die once." The prisoner also remarked that he wanted to end his life. The two children then went out and informed the police. and an emetic was administered to the prisoner, who was afterwards taken to the Borough Hospital. In the course of the evidence it was stated that the prisoner had been very much worried recently over severe domestic trouble. In reply to the magistrates. Eddy said he had had some trouble and had given way to drink recently. It was drink that had led to this act. When he told his children to say their prayers he only did so with the view of frightening his son. The Chairman said the Bench sympathised with the prisoner in his trouble, and they were in favour of releasing him if he promised to avoid drink and take care of his children. Supt. Parker, however, said that he had known the prisoner for years, and he hardly thought that his mental condition at present was such that he ought to be discharged immediately. Eddy was accordingly remanded to the workhouse for a week.  Pinner Sarno:is Banr.-Collected by the Liverpool Penny Savings Bank Association in Birkenhead and district for the week ended 27th March, 1907:-Seckwithittreet, number of transactions 142, amount lodged £4 17s. 6d., amount repaid .99 35. 84.; Chrigt Church, Liscard, 15, £l4s. 11d., 26.; Harailton-equare, 101, .98 35. 11d., £6 14s. 14.; Little Brighton, 99, ABO 16s. 11d., £3 4.. Bd.; Oakdale Mission, Seaoorabe, 90, .95 17e. 10d., .96 Ms. 44.; Old Cheater-road, 7, Ps. 74., 6s. 44.; Orton-rood, 45, .412 10.. 4d., £4 9s. 11d.; st. .lohn'a, Egremont, 29, £2 14s. 44. ;St. Paul'. Pr tartan Church. 4s, .92 14s. 24., 175.,• Shafteebury Boys' Club. 22, 9e. 74., fr. ld. • Upton, 25, 188. 24., 12.. Id.; Manor-road Council School, 361. .27 146. W., .28 11a. 64.; Poo-road Council School, 409, .a 7.. 74., 4318 12.. 10d.• Rake-lane Counoil School, 160, 04 168. 11.4 £4 as. 114 L ; Rivera. Council School, 505, AD 26. 44- .914 se. Bd.; 'Wallasey_ Council School, HS, a is. 104., -24 135. Bd.