The Sun. — 1846-05-20 (London, England)

SOUTHWARK. A LEAP FROM WATERLOO-BRIDGE.--CharieS Smith, a tose) i-ffumo Ilwnuevndnsaagaptsyt eeeacmrrwiti Waterloo-bridge, oorniaEbb night,or iifedndt rgrgiaeleeneess:pi,t3nef ihdctogootf iaantibitisidllhnteeeaegrnritTvu, on the appearance, was brought before Mr. Cottingham, charged 'with making a very determined attempt upon his life, by throwing himself off the centre arch es out on duty in a boat on the river, on passing one o ennhft elecetdtta' echh. ,tnki ee,tdmithaseaNwr:tacps while on oeihcrelirnee-ss ot, lciHaoiet saeet terd dnienr immediately aottention einamdwi eaassut draggingerci surgeon, lore cnadonoerln,edehsyhii tdmieuniangr tgi hineaghit niearns tpbmi ie\pt.dahyt the bono wloswd: aeeupantlersl v. a'fasaefsiatesshtetteoraHa,; eeke,tnel perfectly immediately men Feathers" isapi tbu. public-house, oldeudsfie nd finding him in that condition, so some e he ,inthelittlehe theb usual llrraetme Waterloo-road, do oi remedies of oa rd ,p androdu producing neighbourhood, having resuscitation were adopted with success. It was, however, discovered that the defendant had received' such serious injuries in precipitating himself from such a height off the bridge, that it was deemed necessary to have him afterwards taken to Charing-cross Hospital, in which institution he remained to the present time. The inspector added, that on finding the defendant was sufficiently recovered to be enabled to leave the hospital, he brought him up to this Court to be dealt with as the magistrate deemed expedient. Policeman 72 F stated that on the Sunday night in question, while on duty on Waterloo-bridge, as he was walking from the north towards the south side, lie observed the defendant approaching him from the latter direction. When the defendant got near him, he made a sudden spring upon the parapet, and then descended upon the abutment of the bridge, and although he (policeman) in a moment seized him by the hair, yet he disengaged himself from his grasp, and ejaculating the words "good bye," precipitated himself head foremost into the river. The policeman added that he heard the splash made by the defendant falling into the water; but although he looked over the parapet he could not distinguish him, owing to the darkness, and he concluded that he was drowned. He (the policeman) afterwards descended to the steps of the bridge on the Surrey side, and to his surprise the inspector and his man were in the act of removing the defendant ashore from their boat. Mr. COTTINGHAM questioned the defendant as to his situation in life, and the cause of his having made such a determined attempt at suicide. In reply the young man stated that he was in the employ of Mr. Maudsley, a cutler, in Wych-street, Strand, and that on the Sunday in question he spent the evening with some friends at Walworth, and was induced to take more drink than he was accustomed to do. He had no recollection of the circumstances above described until subsequent to his removal to the hospital, and he could now assure the magistrate that he deeply regretted the attempt he had made upon his life. The defendant's mother, a respectable woman, attended, and stated that he was a young man of unexceptionable character, and that she was confident that had it not been for the liquor he was advised to take he never would have • ch serious injuries from precipitating himself off the bridge that she was afraid he would never reattemptedsusustcahinead rashsa unfortunately act. She added that he had recover the shock given to his constitution. Mr. Corrnautfam having addressed some useful advice to permitted him to be delivered up into the ethareeynofuhnig m his parent.an'