The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1881-07-15 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE.—James Symes was charged On Tuesday, before Colonel Bingham, with attempting to commit suicide by hanging himself at Nettington on Monday.—William Cozens, who is in the employ of Mr. Jesty, said he was at his work on the morning previous, when he heard a noise in the cowhouse. On going out to see what it was, he found the prisoner lying on his back and struggling. Thinking he was in a fit, he called assistance, and Mr. Jesty came. On examining bun, they found him with a rope round his neck, and apparently dying. They took the rope a his neck The rope was broken, part of it being attached to a beam. He was unable to get up, and they carried him out, took him home, and put him to bed. —Mr. W. C. Jesty said the prisoner's wife was deal, but he had four children, only one of whom was grown up. He was a quiet, steady man, and had been in his employ as cowman six years. Mr. Jesty corroborated the last witness's evidence. About half-past seven on the morning previous he Was called from the hay-field. He went to the cowhouse. and found the prisoner as the last witness had described. He had two or three very bad fits after he got there; he immediately rode off for a doctor, and in the meanwhile he was bathed with water. Dr. Pridham returned with him at once, examined him, and ordered him to be taken to his home. Information was given to the police. He was a very inoffensive man, and hal always done his work well. He had a little girl para4sed, and a deformed boy in the Union, and had had a great deal of trouble lately, which he took very much to heart. Before he worked for him he was in the employ of Mr. J. Cake, of Woolsford, with whom he had been all his life.— Dr. Pridham said he resided at Broadwey. He was called to see the prisoner at eieht o'clock on the previous morning. He found him lying on his back in a cowshed on the premises of Mr. Jesty at Nottington. He was lying beneath a beam, on which hung a piece of broken rope. He was almost insensible, and quite unable to speak. Witness examined him, end found a swollen and red ring round his neck. His tongue was also bitten at the tip and both edges. He directed his removal to his own house, and again visited him in a few hours' time. He was then quite calm and conscious, and expressed himself as be ng very sorry for having attempted the deed, and said he was glad the rope had broken. He said he had been in low spirits for some time past. Witness could find no delusions, or any other symptom of insanity other than the attempt he had just made. He had known him for some years as a quiet inoffensive man, but considered hint to be of low ordinary intelligence. He had one daughter of twelve, paralysed the whole of one side. He should judge the prisoner was suffering from melancholia, and in such cases the impulse to suicide was very common.—Mr. Supt. Gale said he was called to Nottmgton just before 10 o'clock in the morning. He went to the prisoner's house, and found him in bed looking very ill. He asked him if he knew what he had been doing, and heaaid it was trouble that had driven him to it. He had previously been to the cowshed, aod found the piece of rope (produced) hanging across the main beam. He took it down, and found it corresponded with the piece which had been taken off the prisowr's neck. The beam was from eight to ten feet from the floor, and he must have climbed up the crossbeams to have got to it. Witness brought him to Dorchester in his trap, and had him watched all night by a constable.—ln reply to the charge, prisoner said he was very Knot he had attempted such a thing. He was ve4 low, and had had great trouble.—Colonel Bingham said he had no alternative but to commit him for trial. at the Assizes.