The Telegram. — 1894-07-17 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE.  PRISONER BEFORE THE MACISTRATES. William Rwseli, a sawyer, who lives at Ashlands, made a most determined attempt to end his life by hanging on Tuesday evening. He had twice tried ta hang himself the same evening. The first time he was prevented from carrying out his rash act by a man named Wm. Hooper. After this event happened he seemed much quieter. About half-past 11, however, finding no-one in the house (his wife having just stepped outside to talk to some neighbours), he took advantage of the quietness, and bolting the door, tried to hang himself from a beam in the house. When the door was found locked a duplicate key was quickly obtained, and the door was opened. Rowell was then found banging to a beam, having a rope around his neck. die VMS black in the face and appeared to be gasping for breath. A neighbour, who lived close by, named Edwin l'aull, immediately cut him down, and Rowsell revived. The police were cominunicated with, and Sergeant Grant apprehended ltowsell and took him to the police-station the same evening. Rowsell was brought up on Wednesday afternoon, at the Town Hall, before Col. Sawyer. The first witness called was Win. Hooper, who said he was a flax-dresser. At about 10 o'clock on Tuesday evening, Mrs. Paull, a neighbour, came to him and slaked him to go and see Rowell, who said he was going to hang himself. He went to .Rowsell's house and called Roweell, asking him what he was upon. He answered, "Nothing. " Wittiest?, went npstairs and saw Howson with a handkerchief tied round his neck. lie had one foot in the bed. He asked him wino he was about, and he said he was going to tie one end of the handkerchief to a nail on a beam and hang himself. He (witness) took the handkerchief away from him and told him not to be so stupid, end begged him to go to bed. Accused said two or three taws that he intended hanging himself before the night Was over. He sat talking to bini for some time, and accused got much quieter. He told Rowsell that be would go downstairs and come lin again in a few minutes. On going up the shihi t'iti second time he found the accused out of bed with his braces in his hand. He dropped the braces on witness entering the room and commenced searching :in hi, trousers pocket. Thinking he might be searching for a knife, witness took the trousers away, and from one of the pockets Look out a knife. Rowsell said to Hooper that he need not have dune that, as he did not intend to use the knife. He thee again repeated that he was going to hang himself before the night was over. Edwin Paul then came into the room, and both of them urged litowsell not to think of such a thing. He was a little the worse for drink. _  Edwin Paull, gardener to Captain Hivington, R.N., ..f Ashlands House, NV ilB the nest witness. He said he was standing outside Rowsell's house. The accused was then downstairs. h must have been alxiut half-past 11. He heard the door being locked. Shortly afterwards he heard a gurgling noise. Mrs. Howsell opened the door with a  duplicate key. They foutid Rowsell hanging by a rope to a beam near the window. Witness immediately cut him down. He was black in the face and insensible. Witness: undid the cord and he revived. his legs were touching a little chair underneath. lie remained with prisoner until the police arrived.—Prisoner here said be was not in a swing. He was up in a little chair, and only doing it for a lark.  Serqt. Grant said that abont 12 o'clock on Tues. day mght he went to Itowseil's house and saw prisoner. He told him be would hare to come with him, and he replied that he would do so with pleasure. He charged him with attempting to commit suicide, and he replied, " All right, sergeant ; I will tell you all about it." He then placed a chair under the beam, got up into the chair, and said, " I was standing like this with a rope 'mind my neck and the end round the nail. Don't you think if I intended hanging myself I should have kicked away the chair!" Witness took him to the police-station, and on the way prisoner remarked that be itas out of wotk and had been for some Vine. He asked him what he did it for, and he replied, "Only for a bit of fun." Prisoner, in defence, said he was 63 years of age. He only did this tots bit of tun. Ile had never been before a Bench of magistrates in all his life. He handed in a testimonial as to his character.  He was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions.