The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1891-11-21 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

COOL CONFFASION OF MURDER. A YOUTH WHO WANTED TO BE HANGED. A youth named Wise, belmoging to H.M.S. Beeeavren, has been arrested on hisowa confession of having pushed another lad of the same training ship, named Salter, over a cliff at Portland ,on Sunday afternoon. They went for a walk that day, and Wise states that when at the ' back of the Wools Gardens he pushed his ; comrade over the cliffs, which, at this spot, ; are between sixty and seventy feet high. On returning to his ship Wise told what had nocured, and on a search being made Salter wee found in almost a lifeless condition at the bottom of the : cliffs at the spot indicated. He was removed to the Prison Infirmary, whore he soon expired. Wise stated some time since that he killed another lad, ; but when the oircwnstaisees were investigated his statement could not be °confirmed. He stoutly maintained that he was telliug, the truth. I Wise, who has previously iv:pressed a wish 'to be hanged, scems overjoyed now, and says that he must be hanged. Mo is • about seventeen years of age, and has generally borne a good character. His unfortunate companion, the immediate Cause of whose death was concussion of the brain, a broken arm, and other injuries, was younger than Wise. It seems that Wise deliberately decoyed the latter to his death. The cliffs at the back of the prison are little frequented, and almost per and a fall over them meantliertaindeath.—The q test on Salter's remains was opened on Tuesday, when a witness named Stone proved finding the deceased at the bottom of the cliffs. Witness asked him how the affair °marred, and he 1916-1 unable to answer.— William Groom, a lad belonging to the Boscawen, ' said he, the accused, and deceased want for a walk on the cliffs on Sunday. He was picking some blackberries, when he heard a groan, and on looking round saw Wise with his hands on his knees , laughing and looking over the cliff. tie adsed Wise what he had done with Salter, but he made no reply, and continued laughing. Witness afterwards met an instructor rattle Boscawen mid told him he ; believed Wise bed hushed Salter over the cliffs. Wise then said he hid aetnally done so, and added that he wanted to be hanged. There was no illi feeling between the loose, and there was no larking. —Ben,amin Sinekey deposed that he asked prisoner if it were true and he replied, "Yes, that is right enough; I tried to settle one last leave, an I have succeeded now." Witnesarernarkedihat Wise could not be right, and Wise replied that he was subjoet to tits of frenzy, and pushed Salter over in one of these fits. He added that he would just as soon , be out of the world as not.—Lieutenant Mills said he questioned Wise when on board, and Wise told him he pushed Salter over the cliffs deliberately, and landed from the ship that day with the express determination of doing this—Robert Franklin, ship's master-starms, said Wise told him last July that he had strangled a boy at Croydon, and buried him in a road. Enquiries were made, andathere appeared to be no foundation for the statem:Tnt.— Dr. Cooke deposed that death was caused by concussion of the brain.—Sir R. Howard, Coroner, said ; the only verdict the jury could return was one of 1" Wilful murder."—The jury returned a verdict accordingly, and prisoner was 'committed for trial. : —At Dorset A.ssizes on Wednesday the trial of Wise was postponed to next Assims, Justice Cave boding that the Magistrates ought to have an opportunity of considering the prisoner's mind.  At the Manchester County Police Court on Tuesday Mary Ann Burke, of Patricroft, WAS sent to prison for two months for neglecting her chid. The Relieving Officer found the child lying on the bare floor, very dirty, and covered with sores, the result of uncleanliness. THBOAT laßxTATtol