MAN IN WOMAN’S CLOTHES

Evening Star, Issue 19943, 13 August 1928, Page 11

MAN IN WOMAN’S CLOTHES

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE “ Tills is one of tho most extraordinary eases■ of suicide I have ever had to deal wilh,” remarked Mr H. R. Oswald, coroner, at the conclusion of an inquest at Marylebono- on Ernest James Allen (21), of Do Morgan road, Fulham, who was found banging in woman’s underclothing at the top of a, building in Stratford place, Loudon. The deceased was a motor van driver, employed by .Messrs Lilley and Skinner, at their Oxford street branch. Mr William James Roberts, an engineer, employed by tbo same lirm, described tho extraordinary position in which the deceased was found. “ I found Ins bicycle on tbo ground floor,” he said. ‘‘Knowing that Allen was missing, I went over the building, and came to a locked door leading to the ballroom and dressing room of a dancing academy. 1 took off a fanlight and climbed in that way. I found Allen hanging in tho middle of the passage on two hooks. In front of him was a small mirror. Ho was wearing two articles of ladies’ underclothing, and at first I took him to be one of tho wax figures used in the shop. I later discovered his own clothes hanging’ up in a dressing room used by girls of tho dancing academy. His ankles were strapped together, and he had apparently knelt on a boot box.” Medical evidence showed that death was due to hanging and strangulation. The coroner's officer suggested that the girl with whom Allen had been keeping company (should be called, but a brother protested that sho was quite unfit to give evidence. ‘‘She is broken-hearted,” he said. Other evidence given showed that apparently just before bis suicide Allen was perfectly normal in his manner. The coroner said it was the most remarkable ca.se of suicide be had ever bad to deal with. “I had thought there was a woman in the case, but that does not appear to ho so. The extrao'rdinary thing is that ho was dressed in this fantastic manner.” Tho coroner recorded a verdict that deceased killed himself by hanging and strangulation. Ho left an open verdict as regards the stale of his mind at the time.