The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-04-23 00:00:00

DISTRESSING OCCURRENCE THROUGH
RELIGIOUS If ONOSLANI A.

On Wednesday morning so Monist was 'bald
at the Townhall, before Hairy Loot, Esq.. deputy-
°armor, touching the death of George Porieriok
Godwin, aged 26, son of Mrs. Godwin, of High
West-street, who came to his death by falling from
a window, bout thirty fast from Me ground, in
Trinity-Arm., on Monday ottoman.

John Devi; residing in Prineesetrest, seid : On
Woodsy evening, shout kalf-past four, I was looking
from my front door, when I observed • 111511 issuing
from the wied.m of Ifni. God win's stove. He we,
ptting bitoseif out, by plaeing his hands on the wall It
appeared the window waa very marl ow. He straggled
herd to get out, end with his Lands on tee wall lifted
himself on one side, self he could not get out because
of his hip bones. He got himself out and then hung
by the feet. I tiosght he mimed to hesitate for a
eecood, then he let go, and fell. lie fell with his head
downwards, but a sorriest: maw along, sad I did not
see him pitch on Ow ground. I ran direstly to the
spot, and with Yr. Bryo.r and others lifted him into the
hones The height of the window is shout JO feet. I
believe he was dead at ones. The MMUS moved, bet
I don't think there was anything more. I remained
till the doctor spa Proonnnena him dead, when I
went home. I had always known deceased. Re was
very close and reserved. I have met him several times
and spoken to him, when he has passed on without
answering.
John Thomas Godwin said: I sm an assistant to my
mother. Tte deessaad I. my brother. Hs had beet
poorly, but bed kept sheet. Re had boon mislaid to
his bed occasionally tor two or tiros days toothier.
Hs has been in slow airless way for two or tbsos

I.olBibill. He had been attended by Mr. °Uncle rttrilorw,
for abodt throe week. on &wont of his mental eon-
nendition. By the &deism of Mr. CI wed we watched him
all we possibly could. I saw drenched whine about
hsllcanchnter of his death in the 'tort shop. Alter
dinner be tad been serving a rustAnser. Without
raring anything he welt from the shop into the yard
torreerds the warehours, and I saw nes more of
hien. Ile continually went back wards and forwards
in that war, and I did not think it neasseory
to follow hem. We wrre very elution tab nit him
b-fore we rolled in Mr (lord, bet no had no 0613 m to
apprehend be was deingerrons to himself or others. He
fregerrs'l7 remained in tiw warehouse a loan time read-
ing. He has had no illness sinem three yean sio. By •
nremon Ft. ado soy statement to lead one to
think he meant to deatroy himself. I don't think he
fell out of the window by accident. It eru his work up
in tho store, more than ehicawbcre, and he was often
there. _ _

Mr. John Onoil, surgeon. said : On Monday &Hempen
I wes hsetily suminoeni to the deceeee• residence.
whom 1 (nand dead in th• warehonse. f ensminerl the
he./ There wsts the effusion of • large qoantit• 01
blood. evidently arising principally from a 'rattan of the
line of the skull. The immense quantity of blood could
only arise from mortal injury to thr bead. Rather more
than • fortnight ago, from information I terwived, I
called on Km Wib to speak to her respecting her
eon's health. From what Mrs. Godwin told nee I
theaelit it derirable I shonl4 see him, and neat elay
went in tinawarrs. About two in the afternoon I
found he wan ;est getting up. I b-lieve be had
been in bed the whole of the week. I had Mi.
greater part of an hour's ooniateation with him I
mw him two or three days after. and Wing of opinion
he wss suffering from incipient disease of the brain I
recommended that he should go away somewhere, and
have • decided &tangs. His mother fully sequieseed in
this wish and arraegoinenis were made that he should
go to Ringstead. When I first proposed where he
should go he said he was willing, bat afterwards he
demurred. I could not, from all the interviews I had,
send him to •lanatio asylum, therefore I recommended
Ringstead, and his 4 made arrangetrenta for him to go,
but he refused. / ssivie-d lira. Godwin to watch him
strictly. and employ him as much as poesible out of
doors. Ever since be bed the fever, three years ago, he
bu been completely altered sullen and morose, and
oompleining of pain in the head. It can he proved very
clearly that lie wee subject to attacks of temporary
insanity, and I have not tin slightest doubt but it was
in a fit of that kind that he threw himself from the
window. There were various books found about the
warehnare in which he had written aentenou perfectly
unintelligible, and there was no doubt that on. wag
written on the day of his death. The deceased con-
sulted me several times with reeard to his handaaka,
sod hat been attended for it, but up to the last three
monthr he has got about doing his business. It wee In
doneennenes of fearing he would hare an attack ci
Insanity that I advised bia friends to watch hint and
take aare of themseiven—Hy a juryman: No doubt tbe
disease partakes of the character of reheats
melancholy. I found that to be the ease in the con-
versation I had with him. I talked the matter over
with him, but he rook, so rationally that it was
impos ible forms to sign for his deten.ion in • lunatic
asylum.
The books were produced in which he bad written
various sentences, all indicating that his mind was un-
hinged, and that his mental disease assumed the form of
religions monomania. In a Prayer Book W 1.4 the
following :

"ml. book is wrong. If you destroy any of my Mends,
they are Inn°. t. They are innneent Akers of the P. H.•."
In o Church Service, which Mr. .1. T. Ondwin need
on Sender. when there ws,s no writing in it, thie was
found on Monday evening
"All my friends are innocent. If you &Amy them, you
wm rob the dead. O. F. 000.11 N."
And, on the opposite leaf:—

• • I writs thi. when in sound stale of my mind, and this book
is isr ng."
. .

In a-Hymn•boolr Iraa tho following :

My friends are it/nom:lt. It you destroy them you rats
the dead.
Also

"I trust we shall meet in en upper and better world, when
I hope I had my senora 0. F. &mete "
In another Hymn-book :

If you destroy my mother, this book Ls wrong Too are
to take the young and .me the dame, lir. Chairman. 0. P.
Gowns "

The jury at once unanimously agreed to • verdict of
"suicidc while in an unsound state of mind."