Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1897-06-18 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

MEDICAL STUDENT'S DOWNFALL. A well-dressed young man, named George Duke, a medical student, pleaded guilty to obtaining the sum of 20e. by false protein:pee, and with intent to defraud Andrew Scott, tho proprietor of the Glou• .stister Arms, Gloucester Terrace, Paddington, London. A second charge alleging the theft of some billiard balls were not proceeded with.—Mr. Slade Butler prosecuted.—The prisoner had represented himself as a Scotland Yard detective officer. On the 2nd of June he was in and out of the prosecittor's house several times. At about four p.m. he sailed Mr. Scott on one side, "1 think there's something wrong going on in your house." Duke whispered. "No, there's not," replied the progenitor. " I'm a detective from Scotland Yard," went on the prisoner, "and I get £2 loa, for iny cases of this sort that I can drop on—that is, where there is betting about." Denying that my betting took place on his premises, Mr. Scott pointed to notices posted up in various parts of the house on which the words "Betting strictly prohibited" was printed. Later the prisoner remarked, "Will you give 0111 • sovereign to square things?" "I have nothing to square," answered the publican, but, intending to give the prisoner into custudy, he handed hint a sovereign, and then called a constable in and hail him arrestsul.—Chief Inspector Belton, stationed at Paddington, stated that he had known Duke for two and a half years. He was the eon of a medical practitioner of long standing in Bayswater. Until 12 months since he was a medical student with bright prospects. Then be fell in with Lai corns panionm, and these brought him to his present position.—Mr. Stephen Lynch, appearing for Duke, said that his parents were willing to send hint out of the country. Ho was nearly 10 years of age.—The Chairman bound Duke over in the Run of £lO (and his father an surety in the same amount) to come up for sentence if called upon.  The Due d'Alencon ha e purchemxl, through e tut r Chancollor awl Sons, the entate known as Belmont, Wimbledon Common, for %hoot .01), 000. The Boston (Lineolnehire) Board of Guardian, have appointed Mies Clariaea Shout registrar of births and deathe for the district. There were five mato candidatel. . .  A Plymouth tolm.rram staton that .liplitheria 11111 broken out among the familiom of ti., II ,N ops ;it Devonport. Several (Imams have Ip‘eti talc.oi to Ow InfecJoust Dimeit,ies Hospital, whiM alfect,l fainilim ore isolatod in outlying fort. 1.401110 diAtatico front town.  If the rollicking burglar does not forswear drink and become a teetotaller, his ocoupation will be Noon known to him no more. At Bristol, the other day, Olisrles Nicholls, coounitted for trial for sacrilege at St. George's Church, Brandon Hill, was stated to have got into the church through it fanlight, and after collecting the hood and stole and cassock of the clergyman, he finally discovered 13 bottle. of sacraments' wine, and next morning he was Owl in a drunken and unconscious condition on the floor of the vestry, with three empty trine bottles cud the aline- boxes.  A widow told the North 1.011.‘:011 coroner the story of the suicide of her husband, Henry Thomas Thompson (aged forty), lately residing at Green Lanes, N. He was once no institution-agora, but wax given to betting and gambling, by which he lost a great deal of money, and iu the end he lost his‘situation, and wan imprilioned. After leaving prison he tried to find employment, but failed. They parted with nanny household things, and got deeper /tn.l deeper in debt. He became a tout to a bookmaker. While his wife was giving the children breakfast, he-asked for some bread and butter, and, going' into another room, poisoned himself with strychnine. Verdict. "Suicide during temporary insanity."  At the meeting of the committee of the Howard Aseociatien, Bishopsgate Without, London, E.C., the following resolution was adopted: •• Whilst the vounnittee of the Howard Association have observed with pleasure the large reduction, of lute years, in tee ber of children committed to prison, a result attributable in coins degree, as they believe, to their own exertions in this direction, they respectfully commend to the consideration of the Home Secretary the desirability of further legislation, wholly to ilisemitinee the use of the gaol for children nder fourteen years of age, except for verions mimes. Either an industrial discipline in special institutions, or, bettor still, a system of conditional liberty under the impervNiun of probation officers, together with a more effectual enforcement of parental respond. bilffy than hitherto, would appear to Ist a far more just and wise disposal of vary young offenders than their incarceration in a prison."