A Death Warrant.

Manawatu Herald, 3 September 1898, Page 3

A Death Warrant.

OFFICER AND DYING MAN PRAY TOGETHER. Neither in romance nor in melodrama has a more striking scene being portrayed than that enacted in connection with the tragic death of Alfred. Pickernell, the young married man : who committed suicide by cutting his throat at Tooting. The reason which impelled Pickernell to take his life was the knowledge that a warrant had been issued at the instance of his employers for his arrest. Inspector Hobson, -of the City police, executed ! the warrant ; but before taking his i prisoner away he allowed him to have ' something to eat. After he had kissed I his wife and said good bye, Pickernell made a bolt for the door and raced upstairs to the bath-room. Inspector Hobson managed to catch hold of his foot but, he himself stumbled Quick as lightning Pickernell was in the bath-room, the latch was pushed to, and then to try and end his troubles he cut his throat. Efforts were made to burst the door but the man himself opened it and admitted the inspector. Mrs Pickernell ran at once for a doctor, but not one could be found for some time. In the meanwhile a very pathetic incident had occurred. Pickernell, who, though he realised that he must die, was perfectly cool, turned to the inspector and asked him to pray with him. Seldom has a stranger prayer been offered, for police official and prisoner went down upon their knees and asked for Divine mercy. When at last the police and Dr. Brook arrived, it was apparent that though Inspector Hobson had bound the man's throat with his handkerchief nothing could save his life, and he died in about an hour and a-half.