The Express. — 1860-08-29 (London, England)

THAMES.  John Dania, a short, broad-shouldered man, of florid complexion, 49 years of age, was charged with attempting to commit suicide and mutilating lunuelf in a very extraordinary manner. Edward Stewart, a police-constable, No. 319 K, said that on Sunday, the 29th of last month, at half-put nine o'clock at night, he saw the prisoner coming out of a field abutting on the Barking-turd, opposite the north wall of the East India flock, and asked him what he had been doing there. The prisoner said he had been sleeping in the field, and that he was drenched to the skin. There had been a violent thunderstorm, and it had rained heavily the same night. The prisoner was very wet, and the water was dripping from his clothes. lie told the prisoner he must have been drinking heavily, and was very foolish to have remained in the field so long. He also advised the prisoner to go home, change his clothes, and go to bed. The prisoner said, " Yes, I sot going," and left him. About an hour afterwards he met the prisoner again near the same place, and in a worse plight than be was before. The prisoner said, " I have thrown a atone through that light," and pointed to a broken gas-lamp on the road. He asked the prisoner why he had done so, to which he replied, " Oh, it is a melees lamp ; there are too many lights." The prisoner, as lie said this, staggered a ,vosl deal, and he observed to him again? " Why, you have been drinking." The prisoner mid, "No, it is a less of blood." He asked him how that was caused, and the prisoner, who stared wildly, and was very weak, said, " I went mail on Friday night, and laid down in the field, and cut my throat." At that time lie was passing under a gas-lamp, and he observed that the prisoners throat was cut. He asked the prisoner why lie had committed such a rash and wicked act? fhe prisoner said, " I hardly know why I did it. I went mad ; it was through my wife ; she promised to meet me tail tell me where she had got a fresh lodging, and she did not come as promised, and I then went into the field and fell asleep, and when I awoke I saw people standing about me, and they made me cut my throat. As soon I had done that they vanished like shadows." Witneu then took the prisoner to the Poplar Station-house, and sent for Mr. Robinson, the divisional surgeon of police. He then noticed that the prisoner's newer' and shoes were saturated with blood, and he asked him if he had inflicted any other Wound upon himself. The primmer said, " Yes, I have," and described how he had wounded himself. The constable gave further evidence of the horrible manner in which the prisoner had mutilated himself, and the hemorrhage which had taken place in consequence. He searched the prisoner, and found upon him a lar.e. clasp knife. The blade was stained with blood and much worn. The edge was dull. The prisoner said, " Yes, that is the lmife—that's it—it is nut muck of a thing. If I had had asharp knife, I should have cut my head off." Mr. Selfe -And what did you do with this rash and most unfortunate man! What bad become of him since! . .  Stewart—Ho was scut to Poplar Hospital. He has been under medical treatment ever since, and ho was discharged this morning. The doctors were of opinion that ho was labouring under delirium tremens when he inflicted the wounds on himself. He had been drinking very hard in the course of the week before he went to the field. The wound on his throat was a large one and 21 inches long. The other wound and mutilation was very fearful. The prisoner said he wu very sorry for what he bad done. It was owing to drink. Mr. Selfe—Yea, the effects of the accursed drink • what a shocking thing it is. You have been m great jeopardy, and hut for the great skill displayed and the excellent treatment you have received in the Poplar Hospital, you world not have been here.. ..  The prisioner—lt shall never occur again. Stewart was recalled, and said the wife of the prisoner was • very drunken and dissipated woman, and had visited he^ husband several times in the Poplar Hospital while she was intoxicated, until the house surgeon gave directions that she should not be iillowed to enter the hospital again. She was a woman of very indifferent character. Mr. Sella aaksd if there were any relatives interested in the safety of the prisoner? The prisoner—l have sisters and a mother-in-law. I will not do this eosin. Mr. &lie --You ace what are the horrible effects of drunkenness. You and your wife both alike, and your ho.ne broken up. The prisoner—lf you discharge me I will join a teetotal society. Mr. Selfe—l ought to have good security, or you will get drunk again. What do you work at The prisoner—l am a cooper, and have been employed at Messrs. Turner and Blewitt's, at the Orchard-house, Blackwell.  tielfe—Rave you work to go to if I set you at liberty? The !Meaner—The job l was upon war finished last week. I believe I can get wore. Mr. Melfe—Can I rely upon your becoming a teetotaller? The prisoner—l can't make that promise ; but you may rely upon it that I will sever get drunk spin. Mr. Sulfa haviug ascertained that the prisoner was now nut of danger, said that in consideration of the severe sufferings of the prisoner. awl in the hope that be would not act so foolishly again, he would suffer him to be dischargiaL