Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1879-03-28 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

AITIIMPTING TO COMMIT SUTCMF..—Richarci Tizard, a short elderly man, a porter, was charged with attempting to commit suicide. Isabel Tizard stated that she was prisoner's daughter, and resided with her parents at 16, Walpole-street, in the Park. That morning about five o'clock she saw her father take a piece of cord from one of his waistcoat pockets, put it round his neck, and then fasten it to the bed-post. Sh..l slept in the same room as her father and mother, and noticed that he talked a great deal in a rambling manner during the night. He was the worse for drink the night before, but not drunk. When she saw what he was doing she called to her mother, and she got out of bed and snatched the rope from him. The cord was fastened round his neck, but he less still lying in bed. The rope was the same that he brought home the previous evening. He was not black in the face, nor did he say anything to her mother when she untied the cord from the bed post. About ten o'clock that (Thursday) morning he had attempted to hang himself with a strap to the closet door. —Remanded till Friday morning at eleven o'clock. —On the case being called on Friday morning there wall a full Court, and the following magistrates were on the Bench—Dr. Drew and Messrs. B. Hopkins, H. Raggett, and J. E. Robens.—The wife of the prisoner WAS asked by Mr. Arden if she had any complaint to make against her husband, she replied, "No; only as to his trying to take away his own life.—Dr. Drew intimated that they could not  --take the evidence of the wife unless she were in danger of her life, and on being asked if this was the ease, she replied that she was not afraid of her own life. He had never threatened her life. He had many times threatened to take away his own life, and this was generally when he was in drink; but he had done the same when out of drink.—De. Drew asked the prisoner what he had to say, as this was not the first time f—Prisoner replied in a long rambling statement that his wife told him that if he would put a rope round his neck she would drag him anywhere, besides which she had also threatened to put a knife into him. He had not had a moment's peace for the last nine years. He had left his home on several occasions, and had not slept in his home for nine weeks together, but under the window of • house in the Park. His wife turned him out of the house last June. On that occasion he met P.C. Harvey (pointing to him) and asked him if he would kindly give him a night's lodging in the police-station; but that officer informed him that "that with no lodging-house," and he walked the streets all night long.—Jane Baker, a next-door neighbour to the prisoner, stated she saw him in his house after he had tried to hang himself in the closet; he was quite purple in the face and "all of a twitching." She salted him why he had done such a thing, and he replied "He was tired of his life, and could do . as he liked with his own body." The strap was hanging loosely round his neck, and she took it away from him and ran into her own house with it as prisoner kept on wanting it,—Dr. Drew inquired if these people lived harmoniously together? —Witness replied that this was so, only the prisoner's temper was very trying at times, and that was the cause of the unpleasantness; and he had a comfortable home if he liked to think so. Witness said prisoner asked her if he should have been taken into the church if he had destroyed himself, and she told him "Certainly not; they would have to bury him at night."— Prisoner: May I speak? I only put the strap, which I wear round me, round my neck while I was in the closet, as there was no nail to hang it on. My wife has taken me by the hair of my head and pulled me round the room, and has thrown hot tea over me.— Mr. Thomas Court deposed that six years ago while prisoner, himself, and four others were going in a boat from the Harbour to Greenhill, and when about half'hey, Tizard jumped overboard, and when the boat could be stopped he was picked up; he had a very narrow escape, baing between two and three feet under water, and he had gone dowu for the third time. Prisoner was in l.quor at tbe time. He jumped overboard again and was again rescued, the witness threatening that he would give him a good thrwhing if he did it again.—Prisoner was ordered to find a surety for his good behaviour for three months. This was done during the afternoon, and he was liberated.