The Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester Telegram. — 1877-11-23 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

THE LATE SUICIDE OF A CONVICT.  The 1144:34st—inrtge—bsel;;Tth;i;onviot who committed suidde by hanging Mama as recorded in our last issue, was field before Yr. R. N. Howard, coroner, and • jury The following facts were elicited: The Governor said deceased was under tan years' penal servitude, and two years' supervision. His conduct as • convict was very bad; this was Ins fofirth sentence of peal servitude besides other minor convictions, and be bad undergone one previous sentence at Paden& On the nth of November he was brought up for using insubordinate language in the oakum shed, for which he had 14 daps' Confinement in • penal class cell, with crank labour, and the diet to be of the panel class. He murmured something before he was removed. While taking his Mem( exercise with the other prisoners be turned and fared the man behind him, the other sprang forward, knocked him down, and kicked out one of his front teeth. The deceased ought to have Instantly called on the officers, but instead of doing this he struggled and fought with the other man, and they were brought up for fighting; the Governor considered the other was the aggressor, and only ordered • forfeit of 42 marks or seven days of his remission. Mit by good conduct he could regain two of those days. He was placed in the mil to commence his work, and there is • written document or authority for epecially watching this man, as he had made previous attempts to commit suicide. About five o'clock the Governor was Informed that deceased had just been disoovered hanging at the iron plate in his eel, and had been out down. In lees than • minute the Governor went, and found him on the floor of the cell, and several oaken trying to restore life by robbing. He ordered the arms to be worked, to try and teethes action of the heart, for deceased was quite warm about the chest, although the extremities were cold. The galvanic battery was also used, and Dr. Walker and Dr. Askharn also came, but deceased had the appe•rance of a man who had hung hiuuelf. He had made no threats of committing suicide, and the previous attempt was made elsewhere. He was tl years of age. Assistant-Warder David Stewart Murray, who had special instructions to `watch Use primmer, saw him at twelve, and not again until five, when he went to the oeU to collect his elope and sapper tin, and as he opened the door of the cell he found decessegkauthended by the neck to the peforated plates in his by • piece of his own r shirt, which he had evidently torn o for the peirpose,pamed through these boles and fastened round his neck, standing on the lied board; the knot was tied in the common way, and the deceased's toes were touching the bed board. Assistant-Warder Horsier, who accompanied, held him up while Murray tore the string, and they laid him on the ground. He breathed onit • very short time, and had ceased breathing when the Governor came. Robert Fall, at 4.46 saw the prisoner and served him with his supper. Noticed nothing particular, and reported all right. Had received him at 12.15, and had charge of him all the afternoon, when he did his work the same es any other convict, and witness could hear the crank going as he patrolled the hall. When the bad finished witness gave him • book from the prison library to read, as he asked; be chthes the story of Sandford and Marten. Dr. Askhani spoke to all proper means liming been used. The cause of death was "Shock to the nervous system caused by hanging." Witness had never seen anything to show that he was other than gene, although he was of • bed temper, and of a violent dispositkiii.—Tba Jury returned • verdict of file do ea.