Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 8 November 1924
Denaby Man’s Attempted Suicide
Throat Cut With Razor
Promising not to do it again, George W. Dufty, a Denaby miner, was discharged into the custody of his wife at the Doncaster West Riding Police Court, on Saturday, when he was charged with attempting to commit suicide.
Charlotte Penn, 30, West Street, Mexborough, sister of the accused, said he called at her house about 3 p.m. He appeared strange in his manner and said he was feeling “bad, bad all over.” He left to go home, but returned at 5.15 when he said he thought he would have a shave. He took off his coat and got one of her husband’s razors from the cupboard. He went out to the lavatory. After he had been gone about ten minutes, she grew anxious and her husband went to look for him. She saw him afterwards in the hospital with a wound in the throat.
James Penn, husband of the last witness, said he found accused with his throat cut and his hands covered with blood.
Dr. J. J. Huey said that when he saw Dufty at the Montagu Hospital, Mexborough, he ordered his removal to the Fullerton Hospital. He was suffering from a multiplicity of wounds in the throat. He was in a depressed condition and there was no improvement until the last week in October. After that he became depressed again, but when he saw him on the previous Thursday he was quite normal. Dr. Huey added that he did not think he would be safe if discharged. He would be better placed under observation in some home.
Dufty’s wife said she was willing to look after her husband. She was not frightened at all. She thought it would be safe.
Dufty, who appeared with his throat bandaged, said he did not know what he was doing.