Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1890-05-24 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE STOCKTON HERALD.  A SENSATIONAL ATTEMPTED  MURDER.  SUICIDE OF THE ASSAILANT.  Two pistol shots were heard at Lee. Kent, about eleven o'clock on Friday last week followed by loud screams. A policeman ran hi the direction from which they proceeded, and immediately afterwards met a lady bleeding from two wounds in the cheek and mouth. Her assailant had disappeared. She was taken to the hospital in a critical condition. Search was made, and the body of a man was found next morning in a pond off Bromleyroad close by with his throat cut. The lady's name is Holy, and she was the wife of a gentleman living at Lee. The deceased was Mr Frederick Hannan, a young gentleman living at Chislehurst, who formerly lived at Lee. He was • member of the Fabian Society and a brilliantlinguist. Hiz friends had noticed that, he had been sullen and morose lately, but they attributed it to overwork. The explanation of the cause of the crime was furnished on Saturday niebt, when Mrs Rely bad so far recovered as to be able to make a statement of the circumstances under which she was attacked by Hannen. The parties met at Charing Cross Station in the morning, and got out at Grove Park Station. On alighting they went towards her home, walking arm in arm. Hannan suddenly asked her to look at the lights, and when she turned her head aside to look at the London lights he shot her in the temple. She screamed, but he held her around the neck, and, pushing the revolver into her mouth, fired again, exclaiming that he knew it was impossible he could ever win her, and therefore it was better they should die together. Then ho knelt down by her side and deliberately cut his throat. Sla told him he should have thought of her poor children before doing such a thing, and he asked whether she was dying. She answered ale believed she was. At his request she took e handkerchief and staunched tha hlcod at his throat. Then fear overcame her, and she ran away. Hannan had taken her to dances and parties with her husband's knowledge and consent, but on thin occasion Le was not aware they were together, RS she VIE supposed to be dining with some friends. Hopes are entertained of Mrs Haly's recovery. The bullet fired into her mouth by Hanuan cannot be traced, and the doctors believe also swallowed it. Hannana mind was undoubtedly deranged, and his friends were contemplating keeping him under dose observation. Mrs Hely is frightfully diefigered. At the inquest Mr Williams, a fellow clerk, said deceased had been in s morose state for some time peat, and had complained to withess of feeling melancholy. Witness had heard that he was in love with someone. Han. earn slept at witness's house on Thursday night, and behaved so wildly that lie was afraid of him. In the middle of the night witness awoke, and saw Remain sitting up with his chin upon his knees, and loohing very Ftrangely at him. Next morning Hannam again behaved strangely, and witness went to Mr Hannam senior, and told him his son was mad, but they could not decide what to do. On Saturday morning witness received a letter from Hannam enclosing his will, dated Friday.—The Coroner read extracts from a diary found on the body. The entries were rambling and incoherent, referring to love and suicide, and to pains in the head.—The jury returned a verdict that Bantam comniittod suicide whilst tenTorarily , insane,  : • '• •-••••