From one issue of the _Observer_, an East End paper, I quote the
following commonplace events:-
A ship's fireman, named Johnny King, was charged with attempting to
commit suicide. On Wednesday defendant went to Bow Police Station and
stated that he had swallowed a quantity of phosphor paste, as he was
hard up and unable to obtain work. King was taken inside and an
emetic administered, when he vomited up a quantity of the poison.
Defendant now said he was very sorry. Although he had sixteen years'
good character, he was unable to obtain work of any kind. Mr.
Dickinson had defendant put back for the court missionary to see him.
Timothy Warner, thirty-two, was remanded for a similar offence. He
jumped off Limehouse Pier, and when rescued, said, "I intended to do
it."
A decent-looking young woman, named Ellen Gray, was remanded on a
charge of attempting to commit suicide. About half-past eight on
Sunday morning Constable 834 K found defendant lying in a doorway in
Benworth Street, and she was in a very drowsy condition. She was
holding an empty bottle in one hand, and stated that some two or three
hours previously she had swallowed a quantity of laudanum.
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