Beverley and East Riding Telegraph. — 1896-03-21 (Beverley, Humberside, England)

THE TRAGEDY AT A BODEGA.  SENTENCE OF DEATH.  In the Crown Court, at the Birmingham Assizes, on Monday, before Mr. Justice Mathew, Herbert Allen, Si, barman, was indicted for the wilful murder of Henry James Skinner, formerly manager of the Botlega, Temple-street.—Mr. Young, for the prosecution, stated that for five years prior to December 5 last the prisoner was employed as bar. :min at the Boilega, where also his younger brother Anitar was engaged. On Sunday, December 3, after closing time, Mr. Skinner, the deceased man, had occasion to rept' 'nand Arthur Allen, who became excited and struck his master, in consequence of which Mr. Skinner discharged 'mtli the young men, telling them they could call 011 the following morning for their wages. The prisoner went on the sth, having called on the previous day, and was paid his wages. Prisoner left the Bodega, krid was seen loitering up and down outable. 4aid to an acquaintamie that he nas waiting ti see Mr. Skinner, and added that "life was noi worth living." When Mr. Skinner came he told David Andrews, the head barman, that Arthur Allen had taken out a summons against him for a6sault, and he added that lie should take out two cross-summonses against Arthur and Herbert. Prisoner entered the house, and after a few moment'. addressed Andrews and said that Mr. Skinner had given him permission to have some brandy. He did not have any, however. He turned and walked away, and hail gone about three yard, when prisoner called, " Mr. Skinner, Mr. Skinner." Mr. Skinner turned round, and as he did so prisoner pulled out a revolver and fired two shots at him. One of the bullets entered his body and he fell dead. Andrews jumped over the bar and seized prisoner, who shouted "Dave, let me go or I'll shoot you." Andrews wrenched the revolver from his hold and gave him into custody—The witness admitted in cross-examination that the accused had been very morose and strange in his manner at tbnes since he met with an accident and broke his jaw six months ago.—Arthur Allen, the brother already referred to, said his father, who died a few years ago, several times threatened and tried to commit suicide. A brother, Benjamin, killed himself with a gun not long ago, and another brother Albert, shot himself with a revolver when he was about 12 years of age, but did not kill himself. Prisoner had on several occasions threatened to do away with himself—in fact, he had tried to kill himself. —Mr. Dorsett, for the defence, did not deny that a very wicked act had been committed, but he asked the jury to say that he was not of sound mind at the time.—The learned Judge having summed up, the jury returned a verdict of guilty. —Sentence of death was passed in the usual way.  • The prisoner read the following statement •  beg lea;e to address a few reinTirk; to you concerning myself. I have always been, so far as I can remember, a misanthropic character, and always when a misfortune befell me, my thoughts instantly turned to suicide. I have made several attempts on my life which have been unsuccessful, and I don't place much value in the possession of it. It is with the greatest anguish that I know I have taken the life of a fellow-creature, but from the first my only intention was self-murder, and it was only by a strange combination of circumstances that I was led to commit the crime for which I am to suffer, and it has been the hope and certainty that you would condemn me that has alone been the means of restraining me from committing suicide whilst in prison, so that it does not come to ins with such a shock as it would to anyone else. I bought a revolver and cartridges even at the age of twelve to shoot myself, but my father took them from me, and I have besides tried other ways to get rid of myself; but that does not matter now, as you are going to do it for me, and I am very pleased that I shall not commit suicide after all. I sincerely thank everyone for their kind sympathy, and trust that they will not petition the Government for a reprieve for me, as I should only strangle myself the first opportunity."