Widnes Examiner. — 1896-06-27 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDES AT WAR RINGTO N.  Before Mr. R. Garnett at the Warrington Borough Court,on Tuesday, John Bolan, aged 56, Back Dallamlane, was chargcd with attempting to commit suicide on Monday by taking poison. The Chief Constable said the whole affair seemed to 'nave been more or less a result of temper. He did not purpose to go into any evidence at all. About 220 on Monday afternoon defendant's wife was getting his dien( r ready when he came in and said, "I shan't want any dinner; I shan't be here in twenty minutes." He then went into the back yard. A lodger named Michael Bolan went in the same direction and saw defendant fall. Defendant's wife went to him, but he made an obscene remark and she went for assistance. A young woman named Theresa l!llrris went to him an-I ho said he had taken rat poison. Dr. Adams was sent for, and gave defendant an emetic. Defendant was sent to the Infirmary where he had been under the care of Dr. Langdale, and in the custody of the police. Sergeant Rowbottom asked him what he had done it for -and he said, "I have done it for vexation." He appeared very sorry. It was said that for some time back he had been giving way t, drink and intemperate habits that did not conform with his you s. Defendant, who looked at least ten years oiler than he said, and was still suffering from the effects of drink and the poison, said " I !am very sorry for it an,i do not know what made me do i. The Chief Constable : They In it to frightea their wives, and their wives to frighten their husbands. When suioidLifsucceed.i they do not make such a parade of preliminaries. Mrs. Bolan said defendant had been taking drink since Christmas. If he kept from dri!,k thore was not a better man anywhere. He worked at Nlesrs. Evans coal-yard. A young man had lately rog,ued nit of some money and he had been despondent. He was in drink on Monday when he did this foolish act. Defendant ; " I could not help it at the time." Mr. Garnett : You know " when the drink's in wit'S out." The Chief Constable : I think he hurt himself more than he intended. I ask tor a week's remand in custody. I, ill get the drink out .DF him. D'efend ant : lamin a poor sate if I stop here. The Chief Constable : You a% ill be taken to Strange-wars where you will he takii r 02 of. Mr. G3rnett then remanded B )lan as requested.  On Thursday morning at the Warrinxton Police Court 'before the Mayor, Alderman Sutton, Colonel Ridgway, and Mr. S. Chandley, a young man named Charles Hotden, 72 Longford-st. wai charged with attompting to •om mit suicide by cutting his throat on the 18th inst. The Chief Constable. said the defendant stood charged with attrwopting to commit suicide by cutting his throat .and also with taking poison. From enquiriol which!had beim made he came to the conclusion that at the time the attempt was made defendant was non compog meiztis and he simply brought the matter before the benell for .the fact to be stated. Defendant's father was a widower and be lived with him. On Thursday morning between one and two o'clock they should have occupied the same bed. The father woke up and missed the defend int. He heard him making a peculiar noise dewnwtairs and went after him. He found defendant on the sofa and 'bleeding from a slight incised wound on the left of his throat. He said to the defendant " What liaNq you done this for " and the latter pointed to a letter on the ,table. This had since been destroyed but he (the Chief Constable) understood it to have said" Deaf father forgive me for the rash act I have done, give my love to all." The tattier saw that the defendant was suff,,ring more than wa.et attributable to the ctr, and lo .kifer round saw a bottle on the table containin..; spirits of Baits. Be at once gave defendant some whiteninu and water, and sent for Dr. Adams who managed to bring defandin; round. 110 now expressed very deep s••rrow for the act he had committed. He had been low in his mind and had had pains in his head. The night prt.yin„, cricket and seemed in the 1-pst f he had been playing health. Impuliie was apparently the explanatich. Defendant's father said he did not think tie wouut ever do anything of the sort again he had suffered so much during the week. lie had never shown any enema' weakness before but through , being out of work some 12 months he had been depressed. The Chief Constable said Dr. Adams had told him that he did not think defendant .had any intention to take his life but had done the at hysterically with the intention of exciting sympathy. The magistrates dismissed the defendant with a cau,tion.