Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1877-11-23 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE LATE SUICIDE OF A CONVICT. The inquest on the body of the convict who committed suicide by hanging himself, as no...riled in our last issue, was held before Mr. It, N. Howard, coroner, and a jury The following facts were elicited: The Governor said deceased was under ten years' penal servitude, and two years' supervision. his conduct as a convict was very bad ; this was his fourth sentenee of penal servitude besides other minor eenvietions, and he had undergone one previous sentence at Portland. On the 13th of November he was brought up for using insubordinate language in the oakum shed, for which he had 14 days confinement in a penal class cell, with crank labour, and the diet to be of the penal class. He murmured something liefore he was removed. While taking his hours' exercise with the other pri,oners he turned and faced the man behind him, the other sprang forward, knocked hint down, and kicked out one of his front teeth. The deceased ought ti have instantly called on the °Shiers, but instead of doing this he struggled and fought with the other man, and they were brought up fur fighting; the Governor considered the other was tlfe aggres,ir, and only ordered a forfeit of 42 marks or seven days of his rem iMIIOII. hilt by goal conduct he could regain two of those days. lie was placed in the cell to commence his work, and there is a written document or authority for specially watching this man, as he had made previous attempts to commit suicide. About live o'clock the Governer was informed that deceased had just been discovered hanging at the iron plate in his cell, and had been cut 'down. In lees than a minute the Governor went, and found him on the floor of the cell, and several officers trying to restore life by rubbing. lie ordered the arms to be worked, to try and restore action of the heart, for deceased was quite warm about the chest, although the extremities were cold. The galvanic battery was also used, and Dr. Walker anul Dr. Askliam also eame, but deceased had the appearanee of a man who had hung himself. He haul made no threats of committing suicide, and the previous attempt was made elsewhere. He was 13 years of age. Assistant-Warder David Stewart Murray, who had special instructions to watch the prisoner, saw him at twelve, and not again until five, when he went to the cell to collect his slops and simper tin, and as he opened the door of the cell he found deceased suspended by the neck to the peforated plates in his cell, by a piece of his own shirt, which he had evidently torn off for the purpose,passed through these holes and fastened round his neck, standing on the beil hoard ; the knot was tied in the COIIIIIIOII way, and the deceased's toes were touching the bed hoard. Assistant. Warder Norster, who accompanied, held him up while Murray tore the string, and they laid hitu on the ground. He breathed only a very short time, and had ceased breathing when the Governor carne. Robert Fall, at 4.45 saw the prisoner and served hint with his supper. Noticed nothing particular. and rt ported allright. Had received hint at 12.15, and had charge of hint all the afternoon, when he did his work the same as any other convict, and witness could hear the crank cuing as he patrolled the hall. When he had finished witness gave him a hook front the prison library to read, as he asked ; be choose the story of Sandford and Merton. Dr. Askham spoke to all proper means having been used. The cause of death was "Shock to the nervous system caused by hanging." Witness had never seen anything to show that he was other than sane, although he was of a had tenteer, and of a violent disposition—The Jury returned a verdict of fan de se.