The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1882-12-15 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

BOOTS AT THE QUEEN HANGS HIMSELF.  An sittempt at suicide was made at the stables of the Queen's Hotel on Monday morning, which, although it did not succeed, was painful from the youth of the would-be-suicide, and his frequently expressed determination to commit the dreadful deed, arising as he s iys, from eomething preying on his mind so that his life was a burden to him. The lad is nettled Alfred John Hall, sect is only 17, and little for his age. It appears that on Mon lay evening he was with some of gr. Pittis'e servants, a sailor of the Hercules uamed Marks, and the eldest eun if Mr. Toeuins el, guard of the Portland train. In the course of convereation the lad frequently said he was tired of his life and miserable, nit from being uncom• fortable in his place of service, for he was c imfortable enough there ; but from something on his mind. The young people tt led to gtt him out of his low way, but the lad persisted that he WAS tiled of his life, and he made a iiimw of drinking something as if it were poison, aid declared he'd kill himself. The servants expressed their horror f su-h sayings and threats, and the sailor salei—" If I had my wil', I'd have you given a dozen for saying i.e." But the lad went out, and shortly after committed the attempt, particulars of which will be fouud in the evidence. He was arrested, on his master's charge, and next day was brought up before the Mayor (R. N. Howard, Eq.), Dr. Drew, and J. E. Robeus, Esq., and charged with attempting to commit suicide in the Queen stables on Monday night. The lad belongs to Guernsey, end has been in Weymouth about six months.  John Marks' stoker, of H.M.S. Hercules, was in the kitchen of the Q ieen's, last evening, about eight or nine o'clock, with another young man, named Tomlinson, and the servants. They heard a scream, and one of the young ladies cud " That's Hall." they ran to the stable, and found prisoner hanging up. by the neck with a cord, which was fastened m a peculiar way, so that witness could not explain how it was, and it took him a long time to undo. It was fastened round his nick, and at the other end to a beam, very securely. Tlle lad was ab .ut two feet from the ground, and he must have swung himself up.  By the Mayor: If he had put his two hands up and lifted Limself up, there would have been no hanging. It aatthe prisoner who screamed.  The Aflyor : I suppose he was afraid if he did not scre fin no one would cone to him.  Dr. Draw : If he had hung there till now with one loop round his neck he would not bays been dead, if the rest was over the beam in the way you say. (Laughter in Court.) Witness continue .I that when he lifted up the prisoner he seemed very absent in mind, and n)t to know at all what he was about. Some brandy was sent for, but he did not drink it; the stuff that was round his neck would not let him.  P.C. Stickland about a quarter-past eleven, was called to the Queet,'s Hotel by Kr. Pittis, who said he wished to give his boits in custody on a charge of attempting ti hang himself. Witness found the rope produced over a lown four or five times double, and they told him that was what he was hung to. On being charged, the boy said he was miserable, he had something on his mind he should not divulge to anybody, and if he had the chance, he would do it sole. He wanted witness to let him go when he was being brought down street.  Superintendent Vickery ha I not had time to write to his father, but said the lad stated this morning he was determined ti kill himself, he was tired of his life.  Stickland said the lad WAS kicking the cell I door, and said he was miserable, an I would take away his life, he was tire I of it. The Mayor told prismer this was one of the most serious charges that c. u!d be brought against any man. He was just as guilty, in trying t take away his own life, as if he tried to take that: of another man, in fact it Was an attempt to murder, an! was a most serious offence, both as regarded himself and as concerne 1 his country. What had he to say? Prisoner sal I he ha 1 nothing to say. The Mayor said in the face of the esi lance which the last witwases had given—that the prisoner reoeated last eve ,in that he would destroy himself, and again this morning. in roller w rrde, that he would attempt murder—the magistrates could only commit him for trial. They hoped he would cons slier the seriousness of the crime he attempted, arid reflect that there is a hereafter as well as the present life.  The prisoner was removed, the Mayor charging tha vaice to take care of him in the cell Prisoner's eider wai present, and on his bdi..g removA, wen: ...)at with him ~obbing aloud.  jec wi Ai bu  @ton et t eta the  _ VIII the terni bled reetc  _ Co pleas of sir the f  I  ar  ost .ny rAy her  Pauli  Sr i oT  from  Night  ; ,