The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1884-02-02 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.  In London, on Monday, at the Marylebone Policecourt, 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 suddimly 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 willingness 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 Company, 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 keeping 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.