The Telegram. — 1894-09-11 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

BUTDPORT COUNTY SESSIONS.  MosnaY.—Before Mr. W. Coitus and Mr. A. W. H.  Da-Lniers  ALLEGED Arrningl) SUlClDE.—Charies Crawford (70), farmer, of North Poarton, was charged with attempting to commit suicide by cutting his throat on Wodueselay, August 29th.—Itienard George Crawford said he lived with his fatber, and about six o'clock on Wednesday mend ug he was called by his mother, and on proceeding to a barn he found his father with tdooa allover. He was kneeling against the reed, and witness carried hint into the house and put him on the bed. He did not notice any wound, lint the knife produced was found by his sister and belonged to his father ; it was one he bad exchanged with witness for another. Ile afterwards handed the knife to P.C. Hutson, and also sent for a doctor.—Dr. Godchild, of Beaminster, stated he was sent to attend Cram ford, and on going to Pourton tound 'inn in bed. He boo some bloodstained pieces of linen round his throat, and on removing dime witness found a skin wound on the throat about three inches long. This was on the left side, and there was a scratch on the right side. He dressed the wound, which was one that Grawtord himself might have inflicted on himself by his right hand. He could exoress no opinion as to his inentai condition. P.C. Bunion stated that he went to the prisoner's house and saw him in bed, and from what he gathered he obtained a warrant for his apprehension, which he read over to him on September Ist, and to which he made no reply. Yieitenlay (Sunday) morning defendant told witness that he had be.en bad for three weeks, and had not been able to get any sleep, but he felt a lot better that morn ing.--Prisoner asik ed no questions of the witnesses awl volunteered 110 staternent--The 8011, on being called, said he did net care to become responsible for his father, and the wife of the accused said she hoped he would not do it again.—Mr. Colfox said that the Bench had decided to remand Mtn for a week, that he might be examined as to his mental cendition by the medical officer of the House of Detention. A HAPPY FAMlLY.—Aibtrt PCTIVIN, a labourer, of Chardstock, was chaxoeil, in custody, on remand, with assaulting his father, Geo. Perham, at that place, on the 7th inst.—Mr. Rd. Tucker, jun., who appeared on behalf of the prisoner, appealed strongly to the Bench not Logo into the merits ot the ease' and thus widen the breach in the family. The father was quite centented for his son to be bound over to keep the peace. The magistrate? clerk (Mr. F. W. Gundry) poimed out that the prisoner was there on a warrant issued at the instance of the father.— Mr. Tucker stated that an arrangement was made whereby the son should go away, arm nothing further would have been done in it were it not for the interference of the third party. After consultation the Beach said the ease mast proceed. George Perham anted prisoner had been living with him, and on the date in question the prisoner threatened to smash his sister's head, and he (witness) interfered to .ewe his daughter. He (witness) took tip a four-pronged fork to save the prisoner from striking her. A scuffle then took place, and prisoner got him (witnesa)on the greutid, and taught him hold. liy the two shoulders, and kept knocking Ins head on the ground, and, beat torn unmereifuily till his wife came and dragged him oft Major Churchill Langilon pissed, and, seeing witness's condition, drove to Chardstock for the police. He was afraid of his son day and night. He had threatened to murder witness and ins wife CM several occasiona—Cross-examined by Mr. Tucker : Did you fall out of a i lon k cart drunk, lately V Witness : Did you 1 Mr. Tucker : lan asking you a question. Witness I'm asking you a question and 1 Lain't going to answer you.—Mr. Tucker: We must form our own opinion if you won't answer.—Witness refused to answer several other questions till advised to do so by the Bench, fie said Major Langdon Nought the warrant to him ; no one read it, but the sergeant told him where to sign his name. He should have been contented if his son had stopped away.— Elizabeth Perham, wife of the last witness, and mother of prisoner, gave corruborative evidenee, but on being questioned by Mr. Tucker camel! much amusement in Court by her answers, she telling that gentleman that if he wanted to re& a few qiiestious she should tell hint a little more so he had better shut up before she "fronted" him, and he had better hold his tongue. In reply to a question as to whether she did not remember when her husbatid and another son nearly killed prisoner, she replied, " Better if they had done it."—Dr. Langram, of Axminster, deposed to attending the prosecutor, who was very sure and stitf all over. He had attended him up to Wednesday last. —Sergt. Witt repeated his evidence as already reported with the asitli. tins that prisoner *mated on his way to Briilport that he should not Fro back to Chardstock ; if he did he should merder both the obi ; he should go back to Wales. Mr. Tucker having addressed the Bench, called George Welch, sendirlaw of prosecutor, who thought there was fault on both melee, and he thought that if it were not for Major Churchill Walton, who secured the warrant, nothing would have been heard of it. —The Bench, after consultation, said they considered the assault proved, end they now had the antecedents of the prisoner, and found ha was tined for being drunk awl Ili,urderly in 1893 ; drunk and incapable in 15.:44 ; and that 12 years ago he was convicteit of assaulting Alice Toms. In Devon there were two convictions agalied him, and they had also the discharge from the commandant of the 2nd Life Guardia which was marked " Dismissed ; A worthless, incorrigible fellow," ailil they would now send him fur two months' hard labour. Major Chtirciiill Langdon's name hat been mentieued in the tnatter, but they felt that gentleman only did his duty as a magistrate.  A14416E11 INDEcIiNT