The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-12-19 00:00:00

BOOTS AT THE QUEEN HANGS HIMSELF.

An attempt at suicide was made at the stables of 1
the Queen's Hotel on Monday m /ruing, which,
although it did not succeed, was painful from the
youth of the would-brsuie/de, and his frequently ex-
pressed determination to commit the dreedful dee%
arising as he says, from eomething preying on his
mind no that hie life was a burden to him. Tele
a named Alfred John Hall, and is tiuly 17, and little
for his age. It appears that on M .nday evenioc tie
wee with some of Air. Pittis'a serrating, a sailor of the
Iteroulee named Marko, and the eldest son .4 Mr.
ToLudugon, guard of the Portland train. In the
couree of conversation the lad frequently sant he was
tired of his if. and miseranie, from oeing mum.
fortabla in his place of service, for he w&s c ,mturteble
enough there; but from something ,no hie mini. The
young people tried to get his out of hie low way, but
the lad persisted that he was tired of hie life, and he
made a stow of drinking something as if it were
poison. and declared he'd kill himeed. The urvante
°spree/mod their horror ..f su la saying. awl threate, act
,ha sailor saivi—" If I had my WI , I'd have you
given a dozen for saying vu." But the rad went ,ut,
and shortly Ater committed the /attempt, part cUlars
of which will be fouod in the evidence. 11/ woe
arrested, on hie master's charge, and next day wes
brought up before toe Mayor (R. N. Howard, El.),
Or. Drew, and J. E. ltobetta, r;..q., and charged atm
m attepting to commit suicide to the Queen eta In,
on Monday night. Tne 14 bet /nu t lioerney, and
has been in Weymouth about six monthe.
John Marks, stoker, of 11.11.5. Hercules, was is
the kitchen of be 4 leen.d, hut eVeulog, auntrjog
or nine o'clock, with another youog man, mined
lOtillilUoo, and the servants. They heard a
and one of the young ladies said " lb it's Hall," they
ran to the stable, and (Dun I prisoner hanging up uy
the neck with a cord, which was fastehe I in a
penalise way, so that witnevs cut,! not explain how
it wee arid it took him a long time to undo. It was
tuteued round his neck, and at the other end 1, a
neam, very securely. Tne Imi was ab .ut two fct
fro= the ground, and he must have owuteg himsdf •
up. . . . • •

By the Mayor: If he had put his two hands up
and lifted himself up, there would have Men uo
hanging. It wa. the planar WEIO screamed.
Tao Slayor : I suppose he was afraid it he did u. 4
scream no oue would cone to him.

Dr. Drew : If he hal hung there till now with ne
loop rouud his neck he would not hay • been ,lesd,
if the rest was over the beam in the way you say.
(Laughter in Court.)
Witness continual that when he lifted up the pris HOC
he seemed very absent ia mud, aud n t, knoe
at all what he was about. Some brandy was seat for,
but he did not drink ii; the stuff that was round an
nook would not let him.

P.C. Stickland about a quarter-pant eleven, real
called to the Stleelid Hotel by ltr. Plait, who sad
he wished to give his boots in cu.to ly on a charge
of attempting tJ hang himself. Witoem found tus
rope produced over a bmin four or live tunes d,uble,
and they told him that was whi.. he wai bur.; to.
Un being charged, the boy said he was atherable, be
had something on hiS mind be should not divulge to
anybody, and if he had the chance, ha would do it
again. He wanted witnes• to let httn go whlll he
was being brought down street.

- -
Superintendent Vickery ha I not had tui t writa
to his lather, but said the lad stated this morning
he worn determined Co kill himself, he WM tired of
his life,

-- ---
P.C. Stickland aaid the lid was kicking the cell
door, and said he wait miserable, an , would take
away his life, he wee tired of it.

The Mayor told prisoner this was one of the most
serious charges that c mkt be br.pught against 501
man. Ile was just so guilty, in trying t • take awsy
his own life, as if he tried to take that: of another
man, in feat it was an attempt to murder, An C"
a most serious offence, both 141 regarded himself anl
as concerned his country. What had he to say
Prisoner sail he hal nothing to say.
The Mayor Paid in the face of the evi 'eons which
the last witivases ha I given —that the prissier
repeated last eve,sin, that ho s ill ..str.,y hi"•
self, and agai this morning. w Is.
he would attempt murder—,he magustrates could .'dr
commit his for trial. They h .ped he wool I cia•
slier the seriousness et the crime he attempted and
reflect that there is a hereafter as well as the resell:
life.
The prisoner was removed, the Mayor charerirg the
police to take care of him in the cell
Prisoner's sister was preeent, and n his beie6
removed, went out with him sobbing aloud.