Alston Herald, and East Cumberland Advertiser. — 1880-05-15 (Alston, Cumbria, England)

DETERMINED SUICIDE AT MIDDLESBROUGH.  On Saturday morning a determined suicide was committed by an aged man named Joseph Metcalf, who was under arrest at the time. About ten o'clock Metcalf was taken into custody at the Cargo Fleet Timber Yard, where he worked, by a Sheriff's officer, under a writ of attachment issued by the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice. He appears to have been connected with an estate of a person dying without a will, and at the instance of other interested parties, living in Leeds, the Chancery Divi.ion ordered him to give up certain documents belonging to the astate. But he disobeyed the injunction, and his committal for contempt of court was applied for, and granted. In pursuance of that, the Sheriff's officer was conveying him to York Castle, when he made the desperate attempt upon his own life. On the officer going to the timber yard he recognised him, and endeavoured to get away, but without success. lie was guarded more carefully by the officer, and the person who accompanied him, in consequence; but he offered no resistance, walking quietly to the railway station. lie scarcely spoke on the way, and appeared to be meditative. Evidently .he felt his pesitioin acutely, and remarked that he thought insti• tilting the suit against him had treated him scurvily, that he could not avoid not producing the documents, and that he did not think they would have had him arrested. On getting a little beyond the top of the steps from Exchange-place to the station entrance Metcalf was noticed to lift his right hand to his neck, and he is believed to have inflicted a slight wound in the left aide of it. Immediately he was seized by the arms, but he struggled in a most violent manner, released himself from the officer holding him, and inflicted a deep wound on the right side of the throat. Blood streamed copiously, but for a few moments the unfortunate man struggled desperately, two or three times striking at Mr Walker (the Sheriff's officer), and it was with difficulty that he was got down on the ground. He seemed determined to kill himself, for so long as he was conscious he persisted in holding back.his head, so that the blood might flow out with the utmost freedom, and was so violent that it was impassible to do anything to stanch the blood. Mr .1. A. Jones rendered some assistance, and Doctors Walker, Crafter, and Ellerton were quickly on the spot, and under their treatment the poor fellow milled a little, but he died directly after admission to the Infirmary, whither he was at once remeved. The instrument he used was a common pocketknife with one large blade. Being a civil prisoner, the Sheriff's officer had no power to deprive him of the property on his person, as isdone when arrests are made on criminal charges. In prison, deceeded would have been treated as a debtor. He would have been kept until the Chancery Division thought fit to release him, and that would probably have been not until the production of the documents required, or until he could have shown that he hadn't them. He was between sixty and seventy years of age, and lived in Mill-lane, Mi&llesbrough. For many years he was in the employ of Admiral Chaloner, and while under him bore an excellent character. He was foreman at Messrs Pearson Bros. until their establishment was burnt down. He leaves a widow. An inquest was held on the body on Saturday evening, when a verdict of fete de as was returned.  Two BOYS Daowssn.—On Saturday evening two lade belonging to St. Georges, Gloucestershire, were drowned in the Bristol Floating Harbour. Rowing a boat down the harbour, they got in front of a steamer that was coming in the opposite direction and becoming confused they pulled the boat under the bows of the steamer which capsized it. Two of the occupants of the boat caught hold of a rope thrown from the steamer and were rescued, the other two sank and were drowned, their names were Walter Moss, aged 19, and:George Bateman, aged 17. Errs's