At some time around the month of April 1899, Constantine M’Glone, a labourer, became a lodger at the home of Anne Williams in Wrexham Road, Brymbo. After he had become a lodger, he started drinking heavily.
On one occasion, watched by Anne Williams, Constantine M’Glone went into the garden and lay on the ground. He then drew a pocket-knife across his throat, and he said, “I’ll do this”. Anne Williams ran and told her father, who took the pocket-knife off Constantine M’Glone.
On the morning of the 23rd June 1899, Anne Williams asked Constantine M’Glone to take his possessions and leave the house. Constantine M’Glone would not have any breakfast, but drank a cup of tea that Anne Williams had made for him.
At about 1.45pm that day, Anne Williams went outside towards the closet, and as a result, she feared that something terrible had happened in it, and called for a neighbour, Charles Lea, a 53 years old engine driver.
When Charles Lea reached the closet door, he saw that the door was closed, but that there was blood flowing from under the door. He tried to open the door, but found that he was only able to move it a couple of inches, but this was enough for him to be able to see that Constantine M’Glone was inside the closet, and that he had gashed himself. Charles Lea raised the alarm and ran for the police and the doctor.
Police Constable Edwards arrived at the scene to find Constantine M’Glone sitting in the garden, bleeding profusely from a wound in his neck. PC Edwards searched Constantine M’Glone and found a blood stained razor in his right hand pocket. PC Edwards bandaged the wound, and then called a cab and took M’Glone to the Wrexham Infirmary Hospital.
John Lindsay, a House Surgeon at the Wrexham Infirmary Hospital treated Constantine M’Glone. He saw that he had a cut that was up to ¾ of an inch depth and three inches long along the neck. He also saw a smaller wound that was believed to have been caused by the previous attempt at self-harm. He stitched and dressed the wound.
Whilst in the hospital, Constantine M’Glone developed delirium tremens, presumably due to his withdrawal of alcohol, and he became so violent that shackles had to be used in the hospital.
By Wednesday 5th July 1899, Constantine M’Glone’s health had significantly improved, and he was handed over to the police, and on the same day appeared before the Wrexham Court charged with attempted suicide.
Constantine M’Glone told the court that he was very sorry, and that he could not recall the incident. He also said that he had never previously been before a court.
The Wrexham Court obviously felt that this was a serious matter, as they committed him to appear at the Ruthin Assizes Court.
On Monday 17th July 1899, Constantine M’Glone appeared before the Ruthin Assizes Court. He was found guilty of attempting to commit suicide. He was treated leniently, and he was bound over for the sum of £10 to be of good behaviour.
Source: Victorian Criminal Cases: The Wrexham Area ©2013 Wayne Piotr Cronin-Wojdat of Historical Gems.
