The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1881-07-19 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

PCNIVT.—The remains of the late Mr. Edell Penny. f r so many years rue of the County Court clerks in the employ of Mr. Giles Symonds, solicitor, of this tow°, were interred at the Dorchester Cemetery, on Monday last, the funeral being conducted on the principles of the Funeral Reform Association, which is opposed to any ostentatious display in funeral ceremonies, not only on account of needless expenditure, or from • purely social point of view, but • because the dismal paraphernalia generally used adds needless gloom and horror to the idea of death, and may often be the means if conveying unnecessarily paiuful impressions of fear 'sod dread to the minds of tie young and ignorant." This is, we believe, the first funeral of the kind which has taken place in Dorchester, or. at least, the first under the principles of this association. There were present at the Interment the following relatives :—Mrs. E. Penny, Mr. T. Penny, Mr. H. Penny, Mr. T. D. Penny, Mr. J. J. Penny, and Mrs. Lepton; whilst • large number of persons attended to pay respect to the deceased, including the Rev. H. Verdes, of Badegstoke, who conducted the service, Rev. J. Keil», and the Rey. W. Martin, ministers of the circuit; Mr. Henry Symonds, Mr. Arthur G. Symonds ; several fellowclerks of deceased, Mr. Guy, Mr. Praidowaite, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Watkins; Mr. T. G. Bryer, Mr. Guppy (County Court Clerk if Bridport), Mr. Foster (Brielport) ; beddes many member' of the Primitive Methodist connexion in the town. The children of the Primitive bietitod,st Sund •y Schools attended, and sung appropriate hymns at the chapel, and at the grave. ATTIMPTID Seictog.—Jaines Symes wee charged on Tuesday, before Colonel Bingham, with attempting to commit suicide by hanging Minitel( at Nottington on Monday.—William Cozens, who is in the empty of Mr. Jesty, said he was &this work on the morning pre. vices, when he heard • noise in the cowhouse. On going out to see what it wee, he found the prisoner lying on his back and struggling. Thinking he was in • fit, he called assistance, and Mr. Jesty came. On examining him, they found him with a rope round his neck, and apparently dying. They took the rope off his neck. The rope was broken, part of it being attached to • beam. He was unable to get up, and they ca riei him out, took him home, and put him ti be 1.—:11r. W. C. Jesty said the prisoner's wife was dead, but he had four children, only one of whom was growa up. He wee • quiet, steady man, and had been in his employ as cowman six years. Mr. Jest, corroborated the lad witness's evidence. About half-pad seven on the morning previous he was milled from the hay-field. He went to the oowhouse. and found the prisoner as the last witness had described. He had two or three very bai fits after he got there; he immediately rode off for • doctor, and in the meanwhile he was bathed with water. Dr. Pridham returned with him at once, examined him, and ordered him to be taken to his home. Information was given to the police. He was • very inoffensive man, and hai always done his work well. He had • little girl paralysed, and &deformed boy in the Union, and had had a great deal of trouble lately, which he took very much to heart. Before he worked for him he was in the employ of Mr. J. Cake, of Wooisford, with whom he had been all his life.— Dr. Pridham said he resided at Broadwey. He was called to see the prisoner at eight o'clock on the previous morning. -He found him lying on his back in • cowshed on the premises of Mr. Jesty at Nottington. He was lying beneath abeam, on which hung a piece of broken rope. He was almost insensible, and quite unable to speak. Witness examined him, and fmnii a swollen and red ring round his neck. His tongue was also bitten at the tip and both edges. He directed his removal to his own house, and again visited him in • few hoar" time. He was then quite calm and conscious, and expressed himself an be ng very sorry for having_ attempted the deed, and said he was glad the rope had broken. He said he had been in low spirits for some time past. Witness could find no clainsirms, or any other symptom of insanity other than the attempt he had just made. He had known him for some years as a quiet inoffensive man, but conddered him to be of low ordinary intelligence. He had one daughter of twelve, paralysed the whole of one side. He should judge the prisoner was suffering from melancholia, and in such oases the impulse to suicide was very common.—Mr. Supt. Gale said he wen called ust before 10 o'clock in the morning. to Nwoetntti ntrotbn j e prisoner's house, and found him in bed looking very ill. lie asked Min if he knew what he had been doing, and he said it was trouble thathed driven him to it. He had previously been to the cowahed, and found the piece of rope (produced) hanging across the main beam. He took it down, and found it corre.. pooded with the niece which had been taken off the prisoner's neck. The beam was from eight to ten feet from the fl or, and he must hey, climbed up the (Tonbeams to have git to it. Witne.s brought him to Dorchester in his trap, an I had him watched all night by a ocestable.—ln reply to the charge, prisoner said he was very sorry he had attempted such a thing. He was yeti low, and had hal great trouble—Colonel Bingham said he had no alternative but to commit him for trial at the Assizes.