The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-09-26 00:00:00

PORTLAND.
Iff.LANCHOLY SUICIDE.

An Inquest was held on Saturday afternoon last, at
the Breakwater Hotel, before Mr. It. N. Howard,
coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr. Thomas Gibbs was
foreman, with Messrs. William Jolliffe, Abraham
Ackerman, William Young, Thomas Sleeman, James
Thresher, William Lowman, John Stone, Thomas)
Dunkley, George Betsworth, Charles Honeyman,
William Andrews, Moses Moore, Thomas Gibbs,
George Ifounsell, and Robert Horswell, on the body
of William Simpson, who committtd suicide by banging
himself on Thursday last.
George Young, gunner's mate, on board H.M.S.
Warrior, said: Deceased was one of the carpenter's
crew, on Thursday evening, about 6 p.m., •I came
ashore with • boat's crew for him, to take him on
board, because he was left behind, when the others of
the coaling party went off. I went to the boat shed,
where he had been at work during the day, to look for
him. I opened the door and SSW him hanging from a
beam by a rope round his neck. I ran straight to
him, got on the top of a timber, took out my knife
and cut him down. I felt his pulse and there wail no
EuZon, though he was warm. I sent one of the
ir crew to the sick quarters for help, and the sick
berth steward was first on the spot. In about half-an-
hour the doctor came. The sick berth steward tried
him felt his heart, and jronounced life extinct, so
that nothing was done. The doctor of the Boacawen
I believe, and the assistant-surgeon of the Warrior,
came together, said the man was dead, and they could
do nothing for him. I never had any conversation
with the man that I remember. Ido not kaow if be
had had any disturbance with any one, nor can I give
any reason for his having committed the act.
By the Foreman: In the morning he worked with
the others, and in the afternoon by himself, as I was
told.
John James, corporal of R.M.L.1., on board the
Warrior, was on shore with prisoner over night, and
on Wednesday was at Weymouth with him, they were
together all the evening and returned in the train
together. We only had usual conversation, and
deceased seemed In good ispirite ; he drank but very
little, and the drink that he had did not hurt him.
Next morning he came ashore in the IMMO boat with
the working party, of whom witness had four men on
shore; but deceased worked by himself in the boat
tilted; he was the only man sent ashore that day.
Witnos saw him about 11 in the forenoon, when he
was looking for the boat which was going off. Saw
him again at four o'clock, when he came out of the
boat shed, looked down over and asked whether
witness was going on board, as the men in the boat
were calling out for the party. Witness told him he
wi.s:eiatdgoing on shore till a quarter past four, when
di
said Ihe would go on at once to the boat,
began packing up his tools, and said he was going on
down. Witness went down to the lighter to his own
men, got his own things ready and returned to him, and
went on down. His proper boat to have gene by was
at half .past three. Witness did not miss him then as
he had only to look after his own men, and nothing to
du with seamen. He had no quarrel with any one that
with em ipiew of.
By the Coroiser : It dark man named Tally' the
evening before, was •ritla ts,esti, they were all good
friends together, and Tally did not some ashore on
Thursday. Had not heard that deceased had any bad
news from home. Deceased was • strong powerful
man. Witness in answer to the Coroner: said he might
have stayed in the boat shed about a minute.
Charles Clarke, Master at arms: I am the only
officer en shore to look after this inquest, to my know-
ledge. nem not aware of anything going on on board
to keep the other officers there. Deceased was one of
the carpenter's crew, and had been in the service about
there years. Lie was between 22 and 23. I know
nothing more of him than ordinary. I have made
enquiries but am not able to find that he has had any
dispute with his shipmates ; I believe he has not. His
general manner was quite reserved. His mother and
father are living at Portsmouth, and the man was
generally quiet and well-conducted. He had no good
conduct stripes, he was in the second class for conduct.
I have never seen him the worse for drink since he has
been on board the Warrior. _

etalleurgeo-- n R.N., now stationed at
the Boscawen. On Thunday hat, witness was sent
for to see the decamped. Being on board the Boscawen,
he ha 4 the manage about five, and immediately came
on abort, found the man had been cut down, and wit-
ness loomed OW Wilk, which was still round his neck,
and tight. I should think 11‘.. 411 been dead nearly an
hour. There was nat. drop et the place whpre_ he warn
hanged. Cannot say if his neck was dislocated or nap
he (Bed from strangulation. There was nothing to
show there had been a struggle, his hands were per.
fectly free, and there was no appearance of coercion.
think the man committed swahle, do far eel could
;Op from all the circumstanusw.
By the lon, don't think anything could have
been done for the malt, when he was found. Of course
It would have been better to hate !gowned the rope-
Richard Roklt Merchant : Dec:eased waa a very
quiet man, and I never aw him have any row wit*
his memun h
tes He w not =during any
*lekt- know nothing; that would account tPunorthis
acts our grog together front the same bean.
He left me the last drop, andaaid it was the drunkard's
drop. He did not break Walsers tile evening before
when be went to Weymouth.

308• Ph Bargery, hospital steward •. I went to the
deceased on Thus:day, about five, when he was cut
down. A rope was round biz neck, and the eye oil the
rope compressed the windpipe. Finding the body wee
perfectly dead, I did not interfere with it at all, but
sent for the police.
[The rope wee • large one, of about three-quarter
inch diameter, called the " laxy painter."]
The Coroner riAeediat that there was no evidence
of any mental ent,. and there was no chance
of any other verdict being given than fdo-de se.
The jury debated • considerable time as to whether
they would return a verdict of fe/o deer, or "temporary
insanity."
Although there were 15 on the jury, yet it was im-
possible to get a verdict, for five stood out for a verdict
of temporary insanity, the others being for fe/o de se.
The Court was cleared, and the jury left to debate the
point.