Weekly News. — 1892-07-28 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE.  David Henry Hirst. aged 32 years, grocer, of East-street, Lindley, Huddersfield, has committed suicide under somewhat extraordinary eircumstam:es. About three months ago Samuel Waterhouse, farmer, of Lindley, died, and left Mr. thirst his property, valued at about £4,000, subject to life interests to his sisters, and Hirst was the sole executor. Mr. Waterhouse had a nephew, a dentist, named Aquila Waterhouse, who carries on business in Stiiehieliall-street, Glasgow, and he appears to have felt agzrieved that some of the property had not been lett to him. He caine over to Huddersfield on Ssturday, and suggested to thirst that the lroperty should be divided, and that he should aave a share of it. He would call, he said, on Hirst on Monday morning, and receive his reply. Hirst feared that Waterhouse intended to do him some bodily injury, and informed William Ellam, wheelwright, a friend of his, of what had occurred, and asked him to be about in case of emergency. However, Aquila Waterhouse did not trouble Hirst; but on Monday night Hirst went to visit Miss Waterhouse at the residence of her deceased brother, and there he found Waterhouse. After a while, Hirst said. "I suppose you want an answer to your proposal ?" Waterhouse said "Yes," and Hirst then said, "Well, I have had the property left to me honourably, and I am not going to throw it away." Waterhouse said, "I will give you five minutes to consider it," and went out of the house; but he was rot long away. When he came back some conversation ensued between him and Hirst, and then, saying he did not want to create a scene in the house, he tired a revolver at Hirst. The shot, however, did not take effect, and the bullet was subsequently found on the floor. The two men closed, and struggled, but got to the door, and titer • Hirst freed himself and ran down the yard. The revolver had passed into the hands of Hannah Copley, a former servant, who handed it to Hirst as he went down the yard,and he threw it into a field, where it exploded. Hirst gave information of the affair to his friend Ellam,and he to Police-constable Cocker, who set off in pursuit, and traced the fugitive to Dewsbury, but dune lost all trace. Hirst was somewhat unsettled; but on Wednesday night he was rather more composed, and expressed deep sorrow for Aquila Waterhouse's relatives, as he feared he would be arrested. The following morning Hirst was found dead on the kitchen floor of the house (where lie had lived with his mother). His throat was cut, and near him was a blood-stained razor. The servant, Bertha Thackeray, who found him, raised an alarm, and Dr. Orr was formally called in, but it was useless, as life was extinct.— Aquila Waterhouse, dentist, Sauchiehall-street, illaszow, was apprehended by the Glasgow police for shooting at Hirst.  For the past eight years Charles Hartley, an old shopkeeper, of Morning-lane, Hackney, has never had his shutters down, and has never admitted any person to his house. Current rumour was that the old man was a miser; but, at any rate, he earned the peculiar notoriety of the famous "Dirty Dick" of Btshopsgate. The old man had his milk regularly brought to his house, and it was in this way his dead body was discovered. A lad named Anderson, who failed to-) get response to his knocks, got over the back wall and into the house, when he found he old man, fully dressed, dead on the kitchen g,r. The police and medical aid were summoned; as the house appeared undisturbed, and the ,iee,ased presented no signs of foul play, it is supaced his death was natural,  Miss : "philosophers disagree as to which period of life seems the longest to mankind. What Is your opinion, doctor " Doctor (meditatively): "Well, it varies. In women, for instance, the longest, generally, is between 29 and 30. I know in my wife's case 10 years elapsed between her 29th and 30th birthday."  Very lucid.—Johnny: "I've spilt the butter all over the new table-cover." Mr. Pompis: "Rub the spoiled portion briskly with some woollen fabric, my dear." Johnny: "But what good will that do, pva ?" Mr. P. (clearing his throat): "Why, fricii4q! generates caloric, which volatilises the el-as' particles 0 the stearine matter."  A man named Slater has been committed for trial at Worthing for burglary. While in the service of aLironmonger named Laker, the prisoner surrepMously made for himself keys of the premises, and also a key that fitted the safe. Since his dismissal robberies have occurred, and, a watch being set, a constable discovered him, at 1 o'clock in the morning, in the act of plundering the safe. In the struggle that I ensued the prisoner, who was barefooted, escaped, and, reaching home, barricaded himstlf. The polire watched the house continuously for more than 36 hours, and when Mrs. Slater, who had been absent on a visit with her children, returned, the man was induced to surrender. When the premises:were afterwards searched a number of articles were discovered, which Mr. Laker afterwards identified se forming a portion of his stock.