The Express. — 1860-07-09 (London, England)

THE POLICE COURTS.  Mohammed AU Khan, stated to be • dependent of the Nawaub of Joonaghur, India, was charged with attempting i to commit suicide by cutting hie throat. William Allan, porter at Westminster Hospital, having been sworn as interpreter, John Drake, 101 A, said, on the 28th ult. he was on duty below the bar of the House of Lords, where the Lord Chancellor, the judges, and some of the lords were hearing an appeal case. The public were admitted to each cases, and among other persons he noticed the defendant come in at • quarter past one o'clock. He remained there quiet with the rest of the people, standing about gm yards from witnem, till twenty minutes to 2, when the Lord Chancellor rose from his seat to adthe inquiry. Wilmer then heard • strange. noise behind him, and turning round saw the defendant in the act of cutting his throat with • knife (produced). Witness immediately seised his arm, took him into the lobby, securing a number of papers which defendant had in his hand, and conveyed him to the Westminster Hospital, whence he had brought him in custody to the police court that morning. Mr. Arnold inquired whether the defendant called out anything at the time he cut his throat. The oohs able replied he called out " Allah ! petitions ! Allah! petitions." The papers were here gh in duced, and were for the most part petitions to persons office, complaining of illwags at the hands of the colourable East India Company. Mr. Arnold asked whether any of the aocnsed's friends were present. Mr.Noran, an inspector of the House of Lords, said every inquiry had been made, but none could be found. He had some presumed claims upon the Fast India Company, and had once before been to this country and had • five mange given him back to India, but had returned to England, and had been offered another free passage to his native country, which he had refused to accept, as he said the company owed him money. A gentleman, however, wee present sequainted with the facia of the case, who would throw some further light upon the matter. Mr. Arnold, having observed that he found in one of the =that the accused spoke about destroying himself, the gentleman to step upon the bench, and, after a private interview with the magistrate, The next witness, Mr. William Slater, house surgeon, Westminster Hospital, was called, sad said the accused was admitted to the hospital at 2 o'clock on the 28th ult., and was found to be suffering from an hackled wound on the upper part of the throat. He was immediately attended to, and had been in the hospital ever since. Mr. Arnold inquired what Mr. Slater thought was the date of the accused 's mind.  Mr. Sister replied, not being able to understand defendant's language, he could not form • decided opinion upon that point, but, as far as he could see, the accused was per. fectly sane. Mr. Arnold asked what was the depth of the wound. Mr. Slater answered, it went nearly down to the windPt. Arnold inquired whether, if it bad been deeper, it would have proved fatal. Mr. Slater replied—Not immediately. Defendant was then asked what he had to say, and re. plied through the interpreter that Colonel Long had seat him from the Bombay Presidency to England, to prosecnto some claims he had against the Fast India Company. He had been in the Fast India-house three yews, but no one would listen to his petition, nor to the " Victoria petition " he had drawn up. Mr. Arnold directed the porter to tell him that he (Mr. Arnold) heard be had been offered a free pimp back to India, which he bad rejected. The interpreter gave as acoused's reply that that statement was true, but he wanted his rights, what be bad come to England for ; and if the East India Company would satisfy his chime and give him • free passage to India, he would go back. The defendant was then remanded for • week.