SUICIDE IN A CELL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8349, 8 February 1913, Page 10

SUICIDE IN A CELL

MAN CHARGED WITH FORGERY takes Poison. TRAGEDY AT POLICE STATION. LONDON, December 29. The sfelisalional suicide of a prisoner at Bxixtoii Police Station was inquired ml, a: Bi'ixtbu Cdtoner s Court when Mr G. P. Wyatt held an inquest on Albert Baab, 35, a bookkeeper, of Wiltshire road, Brixton. The deceased’s widow, a prfetty young wofilkU, fashionably attired, said she did not know of tho difficulties deceased was in until 8 o'clock on Wednesday evening, when detectives told her that he had been locked Up. The Cordfior: lias he ever threatened sulc.de? Witness: About a tveek before his death he tried to take salts of lemon, but I stopped him.—Had he any reason for it? He said ho had no,money. He was earning 35s a week at a firm in Cannon street,. and said he could not live upon it.—Has he left you well provided lor? He has left me nothing at all. His people, who are iairly well-to-da, have said nothing about burying him. Policeinspector James Bole said on December 18th ho was informed hy Mr Sidney Catt that on tho previous day a cheque for JM had been forged. Mr Catt took the cheque from a gentleman named Lltiyd, who lived in the same house as Raab. The deceased had asked Mr Lloyd to get the cheque cashed for him. At Brixton Police Station deceased elected to go into a coll, and not stay in the detention room. Ho was searched and about JC2O was found upon him. Ho questioned tvitness’s authority to detain him, and then said: “I have been a fool. 1 wish I eotild undo it now. I am afraid of what my friends will thlhk. They are fairly well off." Witness was informed at 10.30 in the evening that the man had committed suicide. Detective James Bellinger said he arrceted deceased in Leicester square, and bn the way to Brixton Police Station the mail said:, “This means ;i fine Christmas fbr me. How much will X get for this? The evidence is conclusive.” Witness searched him, but found no bottle. P.C. Gagin said ho found deceased very ill in the cell, and he was given seine whiting. Deceased expired shortly afterwards. A paper that had contained poison was found iu tho cell. Dr Robertson, who was called into the cell, said death was due to poisoning by oxalate of potash. The, jury returned a verdict of “Suicide during temporary insanity."