The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-08
Hanged Himself In tho Bristol
Jail Sunday Morning.
LONE PRISONER WAS INSANE
Ne Tried h XIII Wife and Self Last Month
and Was Awaiting Decision Of
Supreme Court.

Al $50 a. m. yesterday Manuel Gabriel,
who attempted 20 kill his wife and him
self al their home on Bourne street Bris-
tol. on March Is. was found dead in cell
z second tier in the Bristol county jail.
by sheriff Philo V .Cady
II was case OF suicide. the prisoner
having hanged himself TO the bars of the
cell ventistor shaft by means of heavy
cotton undershirt, the sleeves of which
were tied around his neck
The man had evidently been dead about
two hours
Gabriel was the only prisoner in the jail
where he had been confined about 10
days. and was awaiting decision by the
Supreme Court as To whether he should
be confined In an asylum.
THOUGHT HE WAS SICK.
Not seeing the prisoner moving about
the jail corridor as usual yesterday
morning Sheriff Cady thought he might
pe sick and proceeded to investigate.
He called TO Gabriel but received no
response. so he went 10 his cell. Look
ing through the door In the dim light the
prisoner seemed To he standing abstract
edly with back against the wall.
The sheriff spoke again and. peering
closer. saw that his prisoner was dead.
The means employed was al once APP
parent ard IL was also seen that after
sirapgulation the undershirt had stretch
ed sufficiently TO permit the mans feet
TO touch the floor.
The cell cot was within three feet of
Cabrel's feet. showing that after having
made his preparations carefully with face
20 the wall he turned around and kicked
she bed away from him.
The cell yentilator h only seven feet
from the floor and the bars protectingwt
efford the only means In the cell for such
an act
HE HAD MELANCHoLIA.
Gabriel has been looked upon as insane
from melanchola ever since the attempt
ed killing of March Is and he was recent
ly so adjudged by a board of examining
physicians.
rpon becoming assured that Gabriel
WAS dead Sheriff Cady notified Chiei OF
Police Hoard and Medical Examiner W.
Fred Williams. The latter deemed an
inquest unnecessary.
Mrs Gabriel. who has recovered from the
attack made upon her. was notified by
Captain Morrissey. She at once arranged
tor the funeral this afternoon
HELD FOR SUPREME COURT.
After the assault on his wife Gabriel
was remanded 70 jail by a Justice OF me
with dangerous weapon. To Wi'n.'
knife.
Ia the dictrict court last Monday Cab
rel was arraigned before Judge O. l..
Hosworth and bound over In $lW
Last Thursday the report OF the physi-
clans appointed To examine into caorei
So 4 ~ TtrAxy n A "A
district court. Monday. was returned 10
the district court before Judge Bosworth.
The report found Gabriel 10 be danger
cus 60 be AZ large. so Judge Bosworth
adtudged him To he insane and ordered
his commitment 20 the State Insane hos
pital
district court having already bound Ca
brel over 20 the grand jury, had no turth-
er jurisdiction and he objected TO his
Assistant Attorney General stearns was
o( Ike opinion A conference was held
and IL was decided 90 keep cabrgl az the
jail until the supreme court decided the
matter.
NO WATCH WAS KEPT
At the jail no watch was kept. while at
the hospital the prisoner would probably
NOT have had the opportunity to Kill him
self
Cahrel was 81 years old. and was born
at ST Michaels Western Islands. He
was formerly sailor and at one time
lived IN Honolulu.
He had lived in Bristol about 10 years.
and worked I'm tho National Rubber COM
pany's factory. making arctics. lie was
very saving and his wife and himself
btrfcd about SilOO.
Deceased was member OF portu-
guere beneficial society Ia Bristol
II was thought that deceased's melan-
cholia arose through dread of an inn
pending operation on a generous ulcer
OF the scrootun.
Mrs. cabrel was discharged from the
hospital about 10 days ago.