The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-03-01 00:00:00

DREADFUL SUICIDE BY POISON.

On Tuesday morning the citizens of Salisbury
I were thrown into • great state of excitement owing
to the report that \lr. John Churoher, a shoemaker,
living in the Market-place, bad died from the effects'
of poison adnainnared by himself. The report was
was unhappily_ too true. It appears that about nine
months ago Mr. John Churcher lost his wife, and
this appears to have preyed heavily upon his mind.
He has been observed to be very desponding for
some few months hack, and his mind appeared to
be disturbed, but li. was not in such • state as to
necessitate his removal to the asylum. On Mooday
he appears to have visited three chemists' shops in
the city, and purchased a packet of Battle's vermin
powder at each place. On Tuesday morning he
took the poison in a cup of coffee, and although
medical assistance was at band, their services were
of no avail, for be died in convulsions about ten
o'clock. The deceased we. much respected, and his
untimely end has • cast a gloom upon the city. Au
inquest was held on the body at the Council
Chamber, on Wednesday afternoon, before R. H.
Wilson, Esq., coroner, when the (attiring evidence
was given :
Fanny Chipp said she was the niece of the late
Mr. John Churcher. She was the daughter of the
sister of the dammed. She had lived with him for
the Iseet nine yeers. He was • widower, his wife
having died on the 21D1h June, 1563. She was •
dressmaker, lint she gave up the business some
years since. He carried on the holiness of •
shoemaker until the time of his death. For the
bat two months be had been in low spirits. She
thought be was in debt, but she did not think his
business had fallen off. He felt his wife's death •
good deal, and he frequently said he should not be
able to do any more work. She had no idea that
he had any intention of committing suicide. She
went into his bedroom about six o'clock on Tuesday
morning. He asked for • pipe. H e bad been
in the habit of smoking in bed for the past nix
weeks. She asked him if he was any worse, and he
rephed no. She took him up a glass of brandy
and water about half put six, and she went into
his hedonist about eight o'clock, and he asked for •
second pipe and a glean of gin and water. She took
him up • cup of coffee instead of the gin. She
went into the room about ten minutes afterwards,
and be was then sitting op in bed, sad looking very
ill. lib' asked him what was the matter, and he
replied, "I have taken some poison. and lam mad."
She immediately sent for Mr. Coate*, surgeon,
who came almost directly, arid remained with him
until his death, which took place shortly afterwards.
There was nothing particular in his conduct on the
Monday. He was very quiet all day, and he went
out on the Monday morning, afternoon, and evening.
He had been in the habit of drinking • little more
lately than before the death of his wife. He was •
very sober man in his wife's life-time. He took
spirit frequently. Witness fetched the spirit, and
he used to take it of a night when be could not
deep. He had complained during this last two
mouths of his inability to sleep. When in the
'hop he seemed not to be able to attend to his
work. He did not know how to cutout the work.
He generally remained at home of an evening.
After she had found him ill, in answer to an inquiry
she put to him, he said he was sure he was mad, or
he should not have taken the poison. She did not
know that there was anything that preyed upon his
mind beyond that of hie debts. She had men no
falling off in his business.
In answer to • juryman, the witnees stated that
the deoesied bad often threatened to destroy
himself since Christmas. It was not usual for him
to hare brandy and water an early of a morning.
She gave him ooffee, because she knew it was
better for him than gin and water. He complained
of being in 'I, lit, and said he should never he able
to work again. When he threatened saltdestruction
she told boo it was nonsense. She did not
think it necessary to have him watched. She
asked Dr. Itlackinore, and he once told her
he ought to be looked alter narrowly.
Mr. Wapshare, cshinet maker, of Casdle-street,
said he bail known the late Mr. Mother for 25 or
26 years. Witness hail noticed for three or four
months pest a great difference in his manner and
general deportment. Ile complained of pains in his
head, and inability to attend to his Waimea The
deceased told his he could not sleep, and that when
be awoke he was obliged to take gin and water. He
was • very sober, steady man. He nevercomplained
of his business falling off, He never said any.
thing which would lead him (witness) to believe
that be contemplated self-destruction. He came
to his house about a week ago. and complained of
illness. He expressed his wish to go to Broad
Lltalke, but be dissuaded him. The deceased knew
several people at Broad Chalks When be was at
witness's house be was very restless. He did not
appear then to have been drinking. He never said
he wasworried about money matters,but be (witness)
thought some few mooths ago a female, to whom
be had been paying his addresses, had repulsed him,
and the deceased told him that that had worried
him. He mentioned the name of the lady, but
witness did not wish to publish it.
Joshua William Atkins said he was in the employ
of Mr. Roe, chemist, Eidveristreet. Mr. Churcher
came to les shop on Monday last, between eleven
and twelve o'clock, and asked for Battle's Vermin
Powder, and be served him. He did not give any
reason for purchasing it, nor did he notice anything
peculiar in his manner. The packet was labelled
poison.
Mr. Whapshere, re-called, said: Having heard of the
matter he went to the house, and asked the deceased
" what essild have induced him to do so dreadful •
thing." He replied he thought ell his friends had
deserted him. Witness answered bow Gould you think
that, for I don't know say mass who has more friends
than you knee. Witness beard him my that he had
purchased the poison at three different shops, naming
them, Fermat..., Roe's, and Hardy's. He appeased to
feel remorse at having lusted as he had done, sod when
Mr. Coates left the room for • slime time be called
for him *eying it weal be too late, as he was becoming
inevule:rd.

Mr. Coetes, mrgeon, raid he ma met for about alas
o'clock on Tuesday morning. Hese+ Mr. Churcher in
bed, end he asked him what pone.% he had takes, sad lie
replied. Bettle's vermin killer, the,. peekete." He
gave him an emetic immediately, and took him out of
bed to apply the stomach pump, but before he could do
ea the deemed had • mem convulsion affecting his
whole bade, and UM muscles of the jaw cloned in Grotty
that he could not put it iota hie mouth. Finding be
could not apply the stomach pump, he bad him re-
fereed to bed, and adminireind chloroform. who.*
under its influence, +item again tried to apply the
stomach pump, but could not snowed in osneequeno. of
the jaw. baize closed. He died about ten o'clock in a
convulsion. The eyeiptoom were those of • person
baring been poisoned by strychnine. Ile took home
the breakfast sup in which were the dregs of the coffee,
and after two teat. he found large quantities of
strychnine. Winne.; had been in the habit of attending
the deemed for some yearn. About 16 years WO he
attmeded him for an Merck of melancholia. He then
by change of air and mem, after having given up
harness in High-street, recovered, He me this
married. About (new mouths' ago be eoesulted witless,
complaining of his head, of aleepleammi, and great
depression of spirits. He said be felt quite
incapable of transacting barmen. He meted
that instantly he attempted to out out he found his
Mad warmed, and it was iniporible to proceed. He
bad not attended the decease' for Me last ten weeks.
not did not apprehend any danger of suicide. He au
He at all le a mste to reemniend his amazement in •
lunatic whim. He was a men of week Med, and
when his wife died he lost the support of his house.
gr. Cbipp, brother-in-law of Ma deceased, stated that
he thought it was a sort of Emily complaiet—oerrom
ma. Ha considered his wife's death greatly affected
_

--ihe Censer mid be believed that what Kr. OoMee
had maid Ina correct, that when the deceased lost his
mile he lost his stay, tor she was a wow of *snider-
able asses aid abihty, sad had • groat Mamma over
him. .

111artmore, at the request of the aoresm, was
east for, but as be meld sot be (mind, the Coroner
inquired of the jury if they sonsidered it neenisary that
the inquiet Mina be adkearsed, is order Mat be wil/41lit
be present to giro aa opiates es to the Mani of is&d
the deceased daring the Mat Ws weeks he kidi been
attending him
The Puy oomoderiad that the widens, at to the ataM
of mina of tio doseased was sslat.nt, sad the Cormier
haring tudlimed Bei tha jon retained a verdict of
" temporary insanity."