Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1875-07-30 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

DISTRESSING CASE OF WASTED OPPORTUNITIES.  The inquest on the convict Robert Wells, who committed suicide at the Prison on Sunday, was held on Tuesday, before Mr. R. N. Howard, coroner, and the following jury :—Mr. Benjamin Collins (foreman); Messrs. Francis Pearce, Ben., F. Pearce, jun., W. Pearce. sen., W. Pearce, jun., E. Pearce, Richard Lano, Robert Sansoni, T. B. Maddocks, W. Lowman Pearce, Henry Sansom, E. Pearce Attwooll, Henry Attwooll, and Win. Malone. He was under sentence of five years' penal servitude, of which he only had nine or ten months left to serve. He had been convicted of larceny. On Sunday afternoon, about half-past six, he came out of his cell and went to the closet. On his return he brought a utensil with him, put some water into it, and stood one foot on the other. Then saying "Lord, have mercy on my soul !" he jumped off the railings, on the fourth landing, and fell on to the stone door beneath, perhaps 66 feet deep, sustaining several fractures and wounds, one of which was of the jaw, and a wound of the throat. He was thought to be dead: but he lingered till the following day. During this time he could not articulate, and could only make those around him understand by signs, and being asked why he did it, he gave them to understand it was an accident. It was, however' clear from the evidence that he had got upon the rail and jumped off with an exclamation, so that it could not have been an accident He had been ill for sometime, complaining of vomiting, and he could have fallen out in the morning and seen the medical officer, Dr. Askham ; but he did not do so, although another conviet did. About two o'clock in the day he complained of being unwell, and was sent immediately to the Infirmary, whore he explained that he was unable to keep his food down. He was prescribed for, and medicine was given him, which he said did him good. He asked, if the vomiting should return in the evening, that he might have some medicine later on. He was promised he should, and he was got back to his cell about half-past four, and from that time nothing occurred till he went to the closet. Be was a person of good education and of rather an exciteable temperament; and on the Saturday previous he had been found passing food to the other prisoners; this he had done eight or ten times since his incarceration, but had received very light punishment, as he was of weakly body. The moment the accident occurred, the doctor was sent for, and the chaplain who was engaged in public service at the time, left the service to come to see the poor wretch, who afterwards received the greatest attention from all the authorities. Deceased was the only son of a widowed mother, having Ilst his father in May last. He was only 26 years old at tbath. The Coroner drew the attention of the jury to the difference between a man committing an act of this kind deliberately and his doing so whilst in a state of temporary insanity. There was no doubt from the evidence that he did it purposely, and it was entirely a question for the jury whether he was in full possession of his senses. He also explained the difference in the mode of burial if a verdict of "Temporary Insanity" were returned, and if it were "Fete-dc-se." The Jury carefully considered the whole of the evidence, especially considering that deceased had arranged for more medicine in the evening, showing that he did not then contemplate self-destruction. The whole of the facts connected with his going to the closet, .tc., were considered by a majority to indicate that deceased committed the act under excitement. _ _ _  W. Lowman Pearce stood out for a verdict of Jetsdc-se but thirteen jurymen agreed to one of "Temporary insanity," and that verdict was returned. Had there not been more than twelve, it is probable the unfortunate Coroner and jury would have hail a long waiting time, so that in this case they must be congratulated on the forethought that secured the unusual number of fourteen.