Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1881-05-07 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE TRAGIC OCCURRENCE AT LONDON.  BRIDGE.  M.r. S. F. Longhorn he—fc-la-s; i-n—qUiry at Guy's Hospitol, as to the death of William Henry Hall, 22, who blew out his brains at London-bridge Station, under the following cireumstancee : Captain Pilleau, Royal Engineers, deposed that the deceased was his private servant, and lived with him at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He Lad come over from Bermuda with witness, and bad done very well. but lately he had got into bad company, and was in the habit of stopping out all night. Witness had remonstrated with him and offered to send him back to Bermuda if he behaved himself, but on Tuesday last he was again absent all night, and when witness saw him at 12.30 am. on Wednesday he fixed a time the same evening to converse with him on his conduct. He saw no more of him, but at about 6.30 pm. received a communication that two men, one answering to his servant, had been trying to pass a cheque for .621 12s. Id. with a forged signature, and had taken train to London from Blackwater. Witness then found that a cabinet belonging to him had been broken open and the cheque in question stolen. A telegram was cent to the station-master at London-bridge to call in the police and detain the men. The companion of ' the deceased was now in the hands of the lamp' shire police, and the cheque, which was recovered, was found to have been forged by him, the deceased not being able to write. A quantity of other property, including the pocket-pistol with which deceased bad shot himself, had been stolen from witness and had been identified among the luggage carried by the two men. In answer to the coroner, the witness stated that the deceased had appeared very depressed and strange in his manner for several weeks poet, as if suffering from some great trouble, but neither his wife nor he could get from him what was the matter. The cheque was a military cheque and awaited his signature in order to be cashed. Police sergeant Harvey, M Division, mid that in consequence of the telegram referred to by last witness, he, in company with Sergeant Wootton, went to London - bridge Station and sow the deceased sad his companion talking ton porter about their luggage. Upon telling them that he and Wootton were police officers, the deceased at once admitted that his name stns Hall, and that he was Captain Pilleau's servant. The cheque referred to was found in a canvas bag. After being starched both prisoners were taken into custody and started for Stone's-end Police-station. They had not proceeded many steps when the deceased turned round, as if to see whether there was any chance of escape, and witness called upon Wootton to wise his left band, which coo free, but before this could be done the deceased presented the pistol (produced) to his mouth, and firmg it, fell to the ground dead. The pistol must have been concealed in his sleeve, and being so small escaped attention. Medical aid was sent for, but, life being extinct, he was removed to the mortuary of Guy'. Hospital. Similar evidence having been given oy Sergeant Wootton, Dr. 3. W. Sanders, housesurgeon, deposed to the injuries received by deceased. A majority of the jury returned a verdict of" Suicide during temporary insanity," and added a rider of praise to the police officers for their conduct.  " KEATING'S POWDER" kills Bean, Morns, FLEAS, BEETLES, and all Insects (perfectly unrivalled) ; barmiest; to everything but Ineects ; tins, 6d. and in. A STEAM CAR has commenced to run on the tramway line between Edinburgh and Portobello.