§ 94. Mr. Thorneasked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information in connection with the death of a soldier found dead in the cells at Aldershot on Sunday, 6th November?
§ Mr. LloydI am informed that the deceased, who was a serving soldier, was arrested by the police on Friday, 4th November, on a charge of stealing a bicycle. While in custody he admitted other offences and during the greater part of the following day until 7.35 p.m. when he was placed in a cell for the night, he was engaged in sorting out certain property which had been found in his possession and indicating how some of it had been stolen. At about 8.10 he was found in the cell hanging by a noose made of the sleeves of his shirt which had been tied round the ventilation flap of the window of the cell. Throughout the day he had been helpful to the police and there was nothing in his conduct or demeanour to suggest that he was unduly depressed or in an abnormal state of mind. Nothing was found in his possession to indicate that he had been contemplating suicide. At the inquest which was held on 7th November, the verdict was that the deceased had committed suicide by hanging; the balance of his mind was disturbed.