An Extraordinary Case.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 353, 19 September 1889, Page 3

An Extraordinary Case.

London, July 13. A deteimined st'em; t at suicide was made on Tuesday by a man named Henry Appleby (48), of Templefield Street, Small Heath. Appleby is a broker 1 y trade, and has done business in a small way with Mr W. Morris, metal dealer, of Whitehead Road, Aston. About half-past ten o'clock on Tuesday morning he was noticed by Mr Morris, to walk to the rear of the premises in the direction of the casting shop, where are three large furnaces, about three feet deep by a foot and a half wide, used for melting the various metals in which Mr Morris deals. Knowing that Appleby oould have no business in this shop, Mr Morris watched him, and had just reached the shop door when he saw Appleby kick tbe bricks off the top of one at the furnaces into the fire inside, Mr Morris immediately said, " What are you up to 1 You'll break the pot inside if you aren't careful; " but Appleby made answer by stooping to the mouth ot the furnace, whioh is almost level with the floor, and attempting to thrust himself into the white-hot flame inside. Mr Morris ran to Appleby and pulled him away from the furnace, and had no sooner loosed hold of him than he rushed to the second furnace and made a similar attempt to throw himself into that, kicking the bricks off the top on one side this time, as it with the idea of giving himself more chance of getting into the fire. This second action was dona so quickly that Mr Morris had scarcely time to realise what Appleby was about before the latter's head had entirely disappeared down the flrehole. Mr Morris instantly threw himself on Appleby, taking bold of him by the middle and dragging him away, Mr Morris immediately called for help, and while still bolding him from behind, he saw Appleby pass bis hands over his face, but thought that probably some of tbe metal had stuck to his face, as there was a large pot full of molten metal in tbe furnace at the time. As soon as one of the men employed at the works arrived on the acene he observed that Appleby's right hand was covered with blood. He caught hold of it, and there found an open clasp-knife, and a moment later it was discovered that Appleby had further attempted hie life by sashing his throat in a horrible manner. With some difficulty the knife was wrenched from his grasp, and during the instant his hands were at liberty Appleby endeavoured to thrust his fingers into tbe wound he had already iqade in his throat and rip it open. His arms were held qntjl further assistance was got, when taken to the General Hospital jn a Sth; wfiera he now lies in a critieal condition, There is only qua season quggeatgd at present why Appleby ebould have attempted to destroy his life, which ia that he had become in arwn with the rant ta the amount of £2O, qua that the landlord yesterday had a portion of trig goods—ot which ha bar] afekth £-200 worth other thus hia furniture—sold by auction. Appalby, who is generally a ateqfly inan, baa a wife and four little children. Ah enquiry madfl late qn Tuesfiqy evening at the general hospital showefi that Appleby ®qe pfogreqaing q* favqHrably m could be expected considering the serious nature of his injuries,