The Telegram. — 1893-09-12 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

DETERMINED ATTEMPTS AT SUICIDE.  John Oxford, married man and a labourer, of Sturminster Marshall, Dorset, made two determined attempts to commit suicide last week. On Wednesday morning, he cut his throat with a razor at his own residence, and was apprehended and taken to Wimborne, where he was to have been charged with the offence on Friday morning. He was watched in the cell by a police constable, who was, however, called into the Court for a few minute, during the morning to prove the service of a summons. In the absence of the constable the man again made an attempt on hie life by tying a handkerchief tightly round his neck, thereby , intending to strangle himself. When the constable ' returned he saw what the man had done and at once called Dr. Hitchcock, who was sitting on the Bench. Oxford did all he could to prevent the handkerchief being taken off, but was unsuccessful. The doctor attended to the man, who bad sufficiently recovered some time after the other business of the Court bad been transacted, to be placed in the dock and charged with the offence for which he had been arrested. The magistrates present were Sir Richard Glyn (chairman), Capt. Carr Glyn, and Dr. Hitchcock. The following evidence was taken : Edward Kent, railway porter, of Sturminster Marshall, stated that on Wednesday, about 9.40 be was going to his work at Bailey Gate station when he was called to prisoner's house, where he found him with a razor in his hand looking in a glass and cutting away at his threat. Witness saw a quantity of blood, and exclaiming, "What are you doing? Give me the razor," immediately took the razor from the man, and threw it into the fire place. The man did not speak and neither did he seem at all sensible. Witness afterwards picked up the razor and placed it on the shelf. Prisoner's neck and the window place were covered with blood. The man fell on to a rug before the fire. Witness called a policeman and then damped a towel and tied it round prisoner's neck, afterwards telegraphing to Wimborne for a doctor.  P.C. Groves, of Corfe Mullen, deposed that he stayed with prisoner till the doctor came and that he found the razor (produced) entered with fresh blood, on the shelf. Dr. C. H. W. Parkinson, of Wimborne, said that he was called to Sturminster by the police and, on going to prisoner's house, found him lying on a 'ouch. He seemed to be in • hysterical condition. Witness removed the towel and examined she man's throakfinding several superficial wounds of A slight character. He put on a wet compress, and in prisoner's presence told Supt. Marsh that he was fit to be taken to Wimborne. At the present time prisoner MU quite rational but depressed. Supt. Marsh said that he brought prisoner to Wiinborne, and placed him in the cells as the police-station. Prisoner, being cautioned and charged, said, "All I have to say is I got rather low in my mind." He was then committed for trial, nothing being said about the second attempt he made on his life.  A SHOCKING TIMMY was enacted at Rademon, Crossgar, co. Down, on Saturday afternoon, when Robert Robinson deliberately shot his wife and mother-in-law, both of whose lives are despaired of. The police searched for Robinson, and be was found to base committed suietde.