The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1879-05-31 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

SHOCKING AND LAMENTABLE SUICIDE OF MR. PRESTON."  L REMARKABLE CARL AT the Borough Police Court, yesterday, before Mr. Preeton, the stipendiary magistrate, a roan named Richard Mills, who said he lived in Comus-street, Liverpool, was charged with having unlawfully, and by means of false pretences, obtained the sum of 2d. from Mr. Donald Fraser. .  ---- --Mr. Thompson, who appeared to prosecute, said he regretted very much that this case had come before his Worship, as it might not be pleasing to him to hear it. However, LB there were no other magistrates present he had no other alternative but to go on with the case. On the evening of the 2ard inst. the defendant, who' is a vendor of newspapers, was down at Lower Tranmere, calling out the latest edition of the Evening Evros. It had been the practice of such men as the defendant to go into Rock Ferry, New Ferry, Tranmere, and the other suburbs of Birkenhead and to caU out startling news for the purpose of obtaining higher prices for their papers than they were legally authorised to obtain. In this instance it appeared that the dgfendant was in Union-street, 11 Tranmere, and a gentleman named Donald Fraser heard him calling out " Sad and Lamentable Suicide of Mr. Preston, the Stipendiary Magistrate of Birken. head." These were the exact words the defendant used, and Mr. Fraser, before purchasing the paper, made special enquiries as to whether it was really his Worship, and the defendant said it was. (Laughter, in which the stipendiary heartily joined.) Mr. Preston said that if it was intended to proceed with the matter, the case had better be taken before someone else. He knew it was a common practice of newsvendors to make extraoniiiary and startling statements in London to sell their papers, but he did not know that it was common in this neighbourhood. Mr. Thompson said the practice was carried on extensively in the suburbs of Birkenhead and there had heen several complaints about it. Mr. Superintendent Clerks could endorse that remark. He bed heard men like the defendant repeatedly calling out startling news and on one occasion, they made something up about the suicide of Peace. Mr. Preston said he had never had a case of this kind brought before him before and he thought the ends of justice qoeld be met by giving the defendant a caution—that was if Mr. Fraser was satisfied.  - ----Mr. Thompson said that not only Mr. Fraser had been taken in, but several others. The defendant had been first of all given into custody by Mr. Farlam, an officer in the employ of the excise. Mr. Preston said that if the case went on it was one that would have to be sent for trial, and it seemed to his mind that the person more deeply aggrieved was himself, and if he freely forgave the defendant on • promise of amendment, not to repeat the offence, perhips that would satisfy all parties. Mr. Thompson had no objection to that codree being adopted, but the defendant must pay the costs. The defendant: I never sold a paper to that gentleman (Mr. Fraser); I had no money on me when I was searched.  Mr. Preston said that that being so the case would have to go on and be proved. A difficulty arose by defendant not admitting the offence. It was here arranged that some of the borough justices should be sent for, but, until the business of the court had been finished, and for some time afterwards, not one could be found. His Worship, at the dose of the business, rose and said he had finished; and asked, with gentlemanly naivete, if there was any need for him to remain to prove that he was in the land of the living. It was suggested that he might have 'to give evidence, and his worship remained a little while in his own oom, and then returned to inform the court that none of the borough justices could be procured, and it would be well if some settlement of the matter could be come to. If not, the case would have to be adjourned till Tuesday. The defendant here said that he admitted crying out "Sad death of a magistrate. Remarkable case heard by Mr. Preston this day"—(laughter)—beeause there was a big line on the contents bill about the death of a magistrate near Blackburn. Those who , were against him called themselves gentlemen, but they were annoyed at being charged la. for the paper. He had to pay his fare to come across the river, and he thought he had a perfect right to charge what he liked for his papers so long as they were his own property. Mr. Thompson said he had plenty of witnesses to prove that the defendant was the man who sold the papers, purporting to contain an account of his worship's death, and he deliberately said, before the money was handed to him, that it was Mr. Preston of Birkenhead. Mr. Preston Very well ; the case must be remanded then.  Mr. Superintendent Clarke (to defendant) : Are you the man who shouted out about the suicide of Peace? Defendant: Yes ; but there was nothing in that. The case was adjourned.