The Blackpool Herald. — 1893-06-02 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

FARCE IN THREE ACTS. STRANGE FREAK OF A DOORMAN.  Of sensational scenes and incidents we have lately had no lack, and fatalities in some form or other have become unpleasantly common. Bat one occurrence this week, which might have had its tragic side, happily assumed an amusing not to say ludicrous aspect, and for a . short time at least John Willis will be notolioas personage. John is an eating-house tout:wand has for several years past acted in that capacity for Mrs. Bowerby, of Marketstreet. He is a character in his way, and bia aim seems to be to surround the milling with which he has the honour to be connected with dignity and caste. He is often to be met with in a spruce snit of black, with the latest collar and scarf, and the all-pervading brown shoes. He generally, too, sports a choice button-hole in his coat, and a cigarette completes the "masher rig-out." It may seem improbable that such an outfit should ever contemplate suicide, but such is undoubtedly the case. On Monday morning Willis crossed the road to Mr. Tarver's dispensary and politely asked for a bottle of rat poison, remarking that he had some rate that he wanted to get rid of. But Mr. Turver, having his suspicions, showed some unwillingness to comply with the request, whereupon John gave himself away by remarking that if he didn't give him " the stuff" he would go and jump off the pier! Convinoed now that there was something wrong Mr. Turner decided to hoodwink the man, and under the pretence of having thought better of it gave him, in a bottle labelled "poison," a quantity of liquid which was in reality only spirit of sal volatile, and the consumption of which would produce no other effect than a peculiar feeling in the region of the digestive organs. Willis left the shop, and as Mr. Turver a few minutes later was ',easing the door of the Castle Inn adjoining, he was requested to step in, and upon doing so he found Willis stretched upon the fist of his back on the floor in the her parlour. It appears that John. had gone into the Castle from Mr. Tarver's, and drinking off the liquid immediately fell to the floor, in the expectation of giving up the ghost. But he didn't give, although it would be interesting to be able to reprodnoe his feelings as he lay waiting for the end. P.C. Tinker was summoned, but no effort could rouse John, who seemed determined to die properly. Tinker, however, prepared an emetic consisting of mustard and water, which Was forced into his mouth. And John sat up. Ha was then lifted on to a seat, when Tinker found that he was intoxicated. He was accordingly removed to the police station, where he created another scene by taking off his shirt and tying it round his neck, although before he accomplished any damage he gave vent to a loud shriek which soon brought the amusea officials to the door of his cell. On Tuesday morning John was arraigned before the Bench, though only on the minor charge of being drunk, and fined 2s. 6d. and ooste. He thanked the magistrates for their leniency, and informed them that he would not trouble them in future. He is now following his peaceful avocation as if nothir.g annual had taken