The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1890-03-01 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

ROBBERIES IN LODGINGS.  ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT THE COUNTY HALL, COVENTRY. Last week a young fellow named William Tysoe, a gardener, belonging to Coventry, but having no settled abode, was brought up ,on a charge of stealing from lodgings. He was remanded, and was kept at the County-hall. There he had an influenza attack, and a policeman sat up with him for several nights, including Thursday. He got better, and was left alone on Friday. At four o'clock on Saturday morning, Supt. Wilson went to prisoner's cell, and found Tysoe had attempted to commit suicide. He had torn up his shirt into strips, tied one end to an iron column, and the other end was tied tightly round his neck. The shirting had proved not strong enough for the purpose the man had in view, and in the fall Tysoe got a bump on the head. When Supt. Wilson went in prisoner was lying on the bed, and he told the officer lie should "do it again " at the first opportunity. At the city petty sessions later in the day, prisoner appeared in the dock in an almost exhausted condition, and had to be accommodated with a chair. He was first charged with stealing, on the 15th inst., from the residence of Daniel Miller, 9, Victoria-terrace, Queen Victoria-road, an imitation gold watch guard, lady's necklet, imitation gold locket with cross attached, gold brooch, amber brooch, silver Albert chain, scarf pin, pair of collar studs, railway whistle, old silver sixpence, 3 old brass coins, 6 old bronze coins, 2 pairs of lady's cuffs, 2 lady's linen collars, leather purse, telescope, silk necktie, 2 padlocks, 2 pocket handkerchiefs, pair of spectacles and case, value £5 3s. 2d.— Mrs. Miller deposed that prisoner took apartments —a sitting room and bedroom—at her house on Friday evening, 14th February, representing himself as a gentleman of independent means, who was going to remain there for some months. Witness asked him to pay in advance, and he then wanted her address, to send a telegram to his sister. He added that he received a remittance of money weekly, and said witness should receive payment on the following Monday. He took possession of the rooms. The only luggage he had was an umbrella, stick, and small bag. He had supper, and retired to bed early, and she saw no more of him until 9.30 the next morning, when he partook of breakfast. Afterwards he went out, with the statement that he had brothers in business for whom he canvassed when he thought proper, and he ordered dinner for half-past twelve that day (Saturday). Witness, however, saw no more of him until he was in custody. As soon as he had gone, she had the impression something was wrong, and rushed upstairs, to find a number of trinkets taken from boxes and drawers in the bedroom prisoner had occupied. They were not under lock and key. Others she did not miss till seeing them at the police-station on Sunday evening.—Fanny, wife of Joseph Hipwell, living at Earlsdon-street, Earlsdon, said prisoner came to her house at a quarter to twelve on Saturday, 15th, and desired furnished apartments. He took a sitting room and bedroom at once, and represented himself as a solicitor in ill-health travelling for health's sake, and he should probably stay with witness for two years. He carried a small bag, and said he was going to send for his luggage. Witness, on Sunday, became suspicious of him. On that morning he took out the telescope produced, belonging to Mrs. Miller. He left the house on Sunday after dinner' and said he would return at five, but did not do so.—P.c. Thos. Wright said he was in search of prisoner on Sun: day, in consequence of reports of robhery, and about 4.30 in the afternoon he saw him in front of Stoneleigh-terrace. Witness followed him into Grosvenor-street, and taking hold of him asked his name. He said "What do you want to know for ? " and he (Wright) replied "I am a policeman." He refused his name, and then witness apprehended him on the charge of committing a robbery in Queen Victoria-road. Prisoner then said, " You have got the wrong man." On being searched at the police station, the various articles enumerated in the charge except the telescope and the silver chain, were found in the man's possession. These two articles ' were found at Mrs. Hipwell's. Prisoner made no reply to the charge. This was all the evidence in the case, and he was then asked if he had anything to say.—Prisoner created some sensation in court by replying, Yes, I wish they would hang me. A second charge against the prisoner was then gone into. This case was that of stealing, on the Bth inst., from 1, Vine-street, a black twill jacket, ditto vest, and gold signet ring, jet guard, collar, and gold stud, value 365., the goods of Emily Trickett. Prosecutrix, widow, stated prisoner came to her house, on Friday, 7th, and engaged two rooms, for which, with board, he promised to pay 28s. a week. He went out, returned in ten minutes, had supper, and went to bed. The next morning he partook of breakfast, and went away itt 10 o'clock, saying he was going for his luggage, and on his return with it he said he would have lunch—fixing the hour at 11.10. He did not come back again, however. At dinner time witness missed a chain, and on Sunday the other things mentioned in the charge.—P.c. Thos. Wright said when in custody on the other charge he found the whole of Mrs. Trickett's property on Tysoe.—ln answer to this charge, prisoner desired to "say nothing but whet he said before." Supt. Wilson here made a statement to the bench as to,prisoner's attempt on his life, and the chairman (Mr. Marriott) observed that with the document (list of convictions) before him, he should not wonder at what the prisoner tried.— Tysoe was then committed to take his trial at the Quarter Sessions, and Inspector Wyatt was requested to inform the governor of Warwick gaol of what occurred at the County-hall that morning.