The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1882-12-19 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

BOOTS AT THE QUEEN HANGS HIMSELF.  An attempt at suicide was made at the stables of 1 the Queen's Hotel on Monday m /ruing, which, although it did not succeed, was painful from the youth of the would-brsuie/de, and his frequently expressed determination to commit the dreedful dee% arising as he says, from eomething preying on his mind no that hie life was a burden to him. Tele a named Alfred John Hall, and is tiuly 17, and little for his age. It appears that on M .nday evenioc tie wee with some of Air. Pittis'a serrating, a sailor of the Iteroulee named Marko, and the eldest son .4 Mr. ToLudugon, guard of the Portland train. In the couree of conversation the lad frequently sant he was tired of his if. and miseranie, from oeing mum. fortabla in his place of service, for he w&s c ,mturteble enough there; but from something ,no hie mini. The young people tried to get his out of hie low way, but the lad persisted that he was tired of hie life, and he made a stow of drinking something as if it were poison. and declared he'd kill himeed. The urvante °spree/mod their horror ..f su la saying. awl threate, act ,ha sailor saivi—" If I had my WI , I'd have you given a dozen for saying vu." But the rad went ,ut, and shortly Ater committed the /attempt, part cUlars of which will be fouod in the evidence. 11/ woe arrested, on hie master's charge, and next day wes brought up before toe Mayor (R. N. Howard, El.), Or. Drew, and J. E. ltobetta, r;..q., and charged atm m attepting to commit suicide to the Queen eta In, on Monday night. Tne 14 bet /nu t lioerney, and has been in Weymouth about six monthe. John Marks, stoker, of 11.11.5. Hercules, was is the kitchen of be 4 leen.d, hut eVeulog, auntrjog or nine o'clock, with another youog man, mined lOtillilUoo, and the servants. They heard a and one of the young ladies said " lb it's Hall," they ran to the stable, and (Dun I prisoner hanging up uy the neck with a cord, which was fastehe I in a penalise way, so that witnevs cut,! not explain how it wee arid it took him a long time to undo. It was tuteued round his neck, and at the other end 1, a neam, very securely. Tne Imi was ab .ut two fct fro= the ground, and he must have owuteg himsdf • up. . . . • •  By the Mayor: If he had put his two hands up and lifted himself up, there would have Men uo hanging. It wa. the planar WEIO screamed. Tao Slayor : I suppose he was afraid it he did u. 4 scream no oue would cone to him.  Dr. Drew : If he hal hung there till now with ne loop rouud his neck he would not hay • been ,lesd, if the rest was over the beam in the way you say. (Laughter in Court.) Witness continual that when he lifted up the pris HOC he seemed very absent ia mud, aud n t, knoe at all what he was about. Some brandy was seat for, but he did not drink ii; the stuff that was round an nook would not let him.  P.C. Stickland about a quarter-pant eleven, real called to the Stleelid Hotel by ltr. Plait, who sad he wished to give his boots in cu.to ly on a charge of attempting tJ hang himself. Witoem found tus rope produced over a bmin four or live tunes d,uble, and they told him that was whi.. he wai bur.; to. Un being charged, the boy said he was atherable, be had something on hiS mind be should not divulge to anybody, and if he had the chance, ha would do it again. He wanted witnes• to let httn go whlll he was being brought down street.  - Superintendent Vickery ha I not had tui t writa to his lather, but said the lad stated this morning he worn determined Co kill himself, he WM tired of his life,  -- --P.C. Stickland aaid the lid was kicking the cell door, and said he wait miserable, an , would take away his life, he wee tired of it.  The Mayor told prisoner this was one of the most serious charges that c mkt be br.pught against 501 man. Ile was just so guilty, in trying t • take awsy his own life, as if he tried to take that: of another man, in feat it was an attempt to murder, An C" a most serious offence, both 141 regarded himself anl as concerned his country. What had he to say Prisoner sail he hal nothing to say. The Mayor Paid in the face of the evi 'eons which the last witivases ha I given —that the prissier repeated last eve,sin, that ho s ill ..str.,y hi"• self, and agai this morning. w Is. he would attempt murder—,he magustrates could .'dr commit his for trial. They h .ped he wool I cia• slier the seriousness et the crime he attempted and reflect that there is a hereafter as well as the resell: life. The prisoner was removed, the Mayor charerirg the police to take care of him in the cell Prisoner's sister was preeent, and n his beie6 removed, went out with him sobbing aloud.