The Sun. — 1856-08-26 (London, England)

BOW-STREET.--A private in the Collstrearn Guards, named Jaws Opp?' it, apparently about 50 years of age and having upon Lis breast a Crimean medal and four easps, besides three goo I-conduct stripes upon the sleeve of his uniform, was brought before Mr. HAll, charged with having attempted to commit suicide o❑ Sunday morning, by jumping from a steam-boat into the river Thames.  It appeared from the evidence that while Inspector Thomas, of theThnmes police, was on duty at the station galley near the Adelphi pier, et about half-past nine in the morning, he saw the defendant go on board the halfpenny steam-boat Endeavour, run across the deck, throw off his leather belt, and jump into the river. The inspect ,r immediately called his men to the oars, and procee-fed to the spot, where they caught defendant's body with the boat-hook and suce..2eded in getting him into the boat. The defendant remained breathless for seine little time, and then called to the crew to let him drown, exclaiming earnestly " O'a ! let me drown, pray let me drown I did not know you were so near me." He then made several attempts to throw hirnelf in again, struggling very bard with the men, until the inspector threatened to handcuff him if he did not remain quiet. On being asked what motive he could have for destroying his life., he replied, "My wife, my dear wife, whom I loved so truly, has left me." He was then taken to B mw-street. The colour.serjaant of the regiment informed the magistrate that de!endant, who had been on duty throughout the late campaign, was a most efficient soldier, and bt re an excellent character. He had sent home a great deal of money to hie wife during his absence in the Crimea—more, perhaps, than any other man in the battalion; and when on reaching home again, he handed her every penny of his savings, she suddenly absconded from him, having, it was believed, formed an adulterous connexion with another man during her husband's absence.  The defendant, who seemed painfully affected, said he Wa3 fully sensible of the wrong he had committed, in a moment of bitter aw;uish, and acisured his worship that if he would overlook the cffence this time it should never be repeated. Hu had lived happily with hie wife for 14 years, and her sudden desertion, without any conceivable cause, was so great a•shock to him that it as almost more than he could bear. Mr. Hall—Are there any children ?  Defendant—None now living, your worship. Mr. Hall—That is a fortunate thing for you. You appear to be a most re.ipectable man as well as a brave soldier, and you may depend upon it that she is wholly unworthy of you. You, as a soldier, ought pot to waste a single tear upon a woman who has proved herself so ungrateful—so utterly worthless. Inspector Thomas said that the wife's mother and sister were in mutt, but they knew nothing of her. The mother, a decent-looking woman, here came up to the witness box, weeping bitterly. She said the defendant had been a very good husband to her daughter, and she was wholly at a loss to account for her unfeeling conduct towards him. She had never known them to quarrel. They lived together, on the contrary, mostaffectionately. Mr. Hall inquired if there was any one to look to him until his mind became calmer and more settled.  Defendant—Take my word, your worship, I will not attempt it again. I had better go to the barracks-- that will be the place for me. I had leave, 103 a married man, to live out of barracks, but now I must go back. Let me go with the serjeant. Eventually the defendant was given up to the serjeant, who undertook to look alter him for the present.