Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1882-12-15 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

BOOTS AT THE QUEEN HANGS HIMSELF.  An attempt 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 'd the would-be-suicide, and his frequently expressed determination to commit the dreadful deed, arising as he s.ys. from som-thing preying on his mind so that his life was a burden to him. The lad is named Alfred John Hall, ad is only 17, and little for his age. It appears that on Monday evening he was with some of Mr. Pittis's servants, a sailor of the Hercules named Marks, and the eldest son of Mr. Tomlinson, guard of the Portland train. In the course f conversation the lad frequently said he was tired of his life and miseraole, not from being uncom• fortable in his place of service, for he was comfortable enough there ; but from something on his mind. The young people tried to get Ilia' out of his low way, but the lad persisted that he was tired of his life, and he made a -show of drinking something as if it were poison, and declared he'd kill himself. Tbe servants expressed their horror .1 nu di sayings and threats, and the sailor ssid--" If I had my wil', I'd have you given a dozen for saying so." But the lad went out, and shortly after committed the attempt, particulars of which will be found iu the evidence. He was arrested, on his master's charge, and next day was brought up before the Mayor (R. N. Howard, Esq.), Dr. Drew, and J. E. Bober's, Hag., and charged with attempting to commit suicide in the Queen stables, on Monday night. The lad belongs to Guernsey, and has been in Weymouth about six months.  John Marks, stoker, of H.M.S. Hercules, MIR in the kitchen of the Q teen'e, last evening, about eight or nine o'clock, with auother young man, named Tomlinson, and the servants. They beard a scream, and one of the young lodiae soid " That'e Hall," they ran to the stable, and bun I prisoner hanging up by the neck with a cord, which was fastened in 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 ni ck, and at the other end to a beam, very securely. Tne lad was ab .ut two feet frotn the ground, and he must have swung himself up.  By the Mayor : If he had put hie two hands up and lifted himself up, there would have been no hanging. It wai the p-isoner who screamed.  The Mayor: I supposa he was afraid if he did not scream no one would cone to him.  Dr. Drew: If he had hung there till now with one loop round his neck he would not have been dead, if the rest was over the beam in the way you say. (Laughter in Court.) Witness continual that when he lifted up the pr;soner ha seemed very absent in mind, and nt to know at all what he was about. Some brandy was sent for, but he did not drink it; the stuff that wa round his neck would not let him.  P.O. Stickland about a quarter-past eleven, wee called to the Queau's Hotel by Mr. Pittis, who said he wished to give his bo )t In custody on a charge of attempting t hang himself. Witness found the rope produced over a bmin four or five times double, and they told him that was what he was hung to. On being charged, the boy said he was mioirable, he bad something on his mind he should not divulge to anybody, and if he had the chance, he would do it solo. 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 morninz he was determined to kill himself, he was tired of his life.  P.C. Stickland said the lad was kicking the cell door, and said he was miserable, awl would take away his life, he was tire I,if it. The Mayor told pris mer this was one of the most serious charges that ciiuld be brought against any men. He was just as guilty, in trying t take awsy his own life, as if he tried to take that: of another man, in fact it was an attempt to murder, anil was a most serious offence, both as regarded himself and as conoerned his country. What had he to say? Prisoner sail he ha I nothing to say. The Mayor said in the lac) of the evidence whioh the last witnesses ha I given—that the prison. r repeated last eve in • that he would destroy him. self, and again this morning, in cr hor w 'edit, that he would attempt murder—the magistrates could only commit him for trial. They hoped he would consider the seriousness ef the crime be attempted. and reflect that there is a hereafter as well as the preeent life.  The prisoner was rmnoved, the Mayor charging the police to take care of him in the cell Pawnee' sister wai present, and on his being removal, won out with Lim sobbing aloud.