The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-02-02 00:00:00

AN ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

In London, on Monday, at the Marylebone Police-
court, James Arthur, n, of 171, Edgware-road, a
coffeehouse-keeper, was charged with attempting to
commit suicide by shooting himself with a revolver, on
the sth of Jannary.—John Arthur said that he was
assistant to his brother, the prisoner. On the morning
of the sth of January he (witness) was sitting with his
brother in the basement of 171, Edgware-road, Mrs.
Arthur having just gone up to bed. He noticed
that the prisoner looked rather strange, and sud-
dimly he jump up with a revolver in his hand.
He (witness) endeavoured to take it from him, but the
prisoner, being stronger, threw him off and rushed ups
stairs. He heard the report of a pistol, and followed
his brother, who was, he found, considerably injured.
He helped him up, sent for a doctor, and afterwards
saw him conveyed to the hospital. He was decidedly
the worse for drink, and had been so for some days.
Mr. Cater, honso surgeon at St. Mary's Hospital, said
the prisoner was brought to that institution about
four o'clock on the morning of January 5. He was
suffering from a large wound in the scalp, apparently
caused by a bullet, which was found an inch and a
quarter under the skin some four days later perfectly
fiat. It was found to correspond with other bullets
In his pcsiession, and to fit a revolver which had
been given to the police. He was now convalescent,
and had been discharged. He was under the influence
of drink when admitted.—Police sergeant Gladdis' 11
D, having deposed to the fact that he was called to
the prisoner at 171, Edgware-road, and sent for Dr.
Capon, who attended to his injuries prior to sending
him to the hospital, a second brother of the prisoner's
also spoke as to the condition of insobriety in which the
prisoner was at the time of the occurrence.—lnspector
Theobald said that when charged the prisoner said it
was all through drink. He did not know at the time
what he was doing, but since he had realised the
wickedness of his act he was only too ready to express
his sorrow for what he had done.—The first witness
was recalled, and said that the prisoner was going to
live with him if discharged, and expressed his willing-
ness to be surety for his good behaviour.—Mr. De
Rutzen said this was another illustration of the evils
of intemperance. It was only by a marvellous stroke
of luck that the prisoner did not kill himself. He
must enter into his own recognizances of £5O, while
his brother became surety in £l.O for his good behaviour
In the future.

THE PRINCE OF WALES AT BRISTOL,
On Monday evening the Prince of Wales arrived at
Bristol on a visit to Sir Philip Miles, of Leigh Court
During the journey very special precautions were taken
with the Zulu express, by which the Prince travelled
In a Royal saloon. The Great Western Railway Com-
pany, in addition to the usual pilot engine, stationed
permanent way men at short intervals, almost within
speaking distance, the whole of the distance-119
miles—from Paddington to Bristol. The entrances
to the tunnels and the tops of any ventilation
shafts were also guarded. Two detective officers of
the Metropolitan Police Force were on the platform of
the new joint station with the Bristol detectives, and
two officers of the latter body went by rail to Bath,
and returned just before the arrival of the train by
which the Prince travelled. The Zulu left Paddington
thirteen minutes late, and was about ten minutes late
at Bristol, where many thousands of people assembled
to greet his Royal Highness notwithstanding that at
his special request the visit was considered a private
one. There was no decoration of the public streets, and
a proposed illumination of the !principal thoroughfares
was abandoned. The route to be taken to Leigh Court
was kept secret, and many persons, believing that the
Prince would pass through the City and cross the
Clifton Saspensioubridge, crowded the main streets;
but om arriving at the station his Royal Highness,
after being received by Sir Philip Miles and the
Mayor, Mr. Joseph D. Weston, and greeted with
hearty hurrahs by the immense crowds assembled
there, entered a private carriage with Sir Philip
Miles, and went by the river aide to Leigh, thus keep-
ing outside the city. A force of mounted police
attended the carriage, and constables were stationed at
intervals along the road, and the Somerset County Police
lined the road from the city boundary to Leigh Court,
around which there was an additional force of police.
Although there were but few decorations in the city,
the residents of Abbots Leigh had erected triumphal
arches, and the drive to Leigh Court was overarched
with evergreens. In the village large numbers of
visitors from Bristol joined the residents in giving the
Prince a hearty reception.