The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1879-09-23 00:00:00

SUICIDE OF MR. J. F. FOWLER.
TIM MUIR

Was held at the Royal Oak Inn, before W. H. Atlda-
son, Req., coroner, and the following jmy—Mr.
George Grovel (foreman), Mews. James Bisp,
George Norris, Frederick Short, Benjamin Braker,
John Davis, Samuel Way, ELanry Passes, William
Sties, Anthony Biles, Henry Loath John Foyls, and
Edwin Augestos Friend.
The jury first viewed the body, which was lying in
the house, at the Manor Farm. It presented a
shocking eight, the charge (of shot) having posed
through the neck, entirely carry* away the wind-
pipe and the gullet, wounding the chin, and separating
part of the connections with the heart. Death must
ha,* been instantaneous. The jury then visited the
plans where the sled act was dons; this was in the
saddle-room, adjoining the stables, on the bin of which
diseased had been sitting holding hi. hunting-whip
straight before him, and it is supproed that be had the
handle of the whip premed downwards against one of the
triggers of a double-barrelled breech-loader, which was
seen by his groom after the body fell. The boom is In
an open park-like gram field, the garden and ahrubbery
seeming to be at the side, and the saddle-room, etc.,
In front. The field or part, in which the house stands
out otherwise without screen, is sequestered from the
village by a bolt of tress skirting the road which leads
up to the church.
The jury having returned through the park and the
village to the Royal Oak, the following evidence was
token :

John Jeffery, groom, in the employ of the late bit.
Fowler: I lain saw him alive on Sunday al ternoon, •
httle before four. He waa in the saddloroorn, adjoin-
ing the stable, sitting on the end of the corn bin. He
had hia shirt collar unbuttoned, and I asked him what
was the matter. He said— • I was warm, John." In
hie hand he had the hunting mop, his tine 11wee
through the loop, and Weather band holding the whip
straight in front of him. I took hold of his shirt
collar, pulled it together. fastened it, and pulled his
coat over it. I said—" Woul you like to go foe a
drive, meatier He replied "Yes, John I will go
with you," and I went to catch hone. It was
close by, I caught it, and, an I wee leading It into the
stable, I beard the report of • goo, just ea I got close
to the door. The bone palled me back, and I said
"Oh dear I master S what hare you done r Directly
alter, ha fell off the bin to the floor ; be did not speak,
being quite ~ead. I gave an alarm, and Joseph
Phillips aid Mr. Bliss came to my assistance. The
latter got a board, end Mr. Fowler was covered with •
boom-cloth, and taken indoors. He then had the
hunting whip in hie hand. The gun wee lying wia.A
the back of the bin, and It kad an empty cartridge in
It. _ _

By the Foreman : Mader was in the stable before
me. I did not see him. Hume not noticed anything
different in my master's manner, within the last few
weeks, from what it used to be. Thalgun was in th•
stable on Saturday night, with two other*, and I
cleaned them. There was no cartridge in it thee. No
cartridges ere kept there, and I do not know how this
one came in ths gun.
By a Juror : Th. cartridges ate kept in the hones,
I don't know where. There wai no other cartridge on
deceased. _

Charlotte Bishop, who was employed in the house,
and who saw Mr. Fowler last before Jeffery, said:
I was at Mr. howler's a few minutes past three, and
two cart horse. came in on the lawn in front of the
house. Mr. Fowler drove them out, and told me to shut
the door, as they would be wanting to come there
again now they had tasted the gram.
Mr. Jobs Laurence Fowler, eldest son of the
deceased: My father has been in a state of great
mental depression for some time, and had a great
dislike to meet people whom Its used to be fond of.
At times he bee been most excitable in his manner, and
has turned beck and refused to meet people whom be
was before familiar with. He has also taken • great
dislike to certain people without any canes, and to a
pet dog which be used to have, throwing • stick at it,
and asking that it might be destroyed. On Thursday,
about 12 o'clock, I stayed with him ball-an-hour. He
seemed much depressed about the weather, and—a
thing most unusual to him—he hardly spoke to my
wife, and I remarked to bar the Mai change I saw in
him. He ham been greatly depressed about money
matters,

Mr7Oharies Wrens, method mac, of Blandford,
had attended dowsed for a long thoe. At times be
had been wiry despondent, especially since his
brother's death. About • week ago he sent foe witness
to ask advice as to his Marla, which witness
strenuously advised, sad also noommended his
nephew to ask Mr. Daniell to prase the matter, after
which he decided to remain at the house till after
harvest. Hs was perfectly rational, bet subject to
fits of sudden despondency, in one of which I believe
he &Buoyed himself, being at the time temporarily
Loathe._
. .

—The Coroner pointed out there could be no reasonable
doubt that the deceased came to hie death through •
gunshot wound inflicted by himself, and also be thought
there could be no doubt that at the time he was
temporarily in sae.
The Jury immediately returned • verdict "That
Joseph Francis Fowler committed suicide whilst In a
Mete of temporary insanity."
The Coroner them am:aimed the pry, hoping he
should not have to meet them on so and an occasion
again.
Demoted left • widow and three sons ; be was 81
yaws of age. A large number of friends attended
Mr. Fowler's funeral. The body was plead on • Mee
and so drawn to the church and the grave. Everyone
will remember his brother's uosturemful contest with
Captain Digby, for the representation of the shire.