The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-01-17 00:00:00

SHOCKING SUICIDE AT HENDON.

An inquest was held by Dr. Hardwicke on Tuesday, at the
Midland Hotel, Hendon, concerning the death of William
Sibley, 81 years of age, of Burnt Oak, Edgware, whose body
was found in the Brent River on Saturday morning under
circumstances which at first led to the impression that a
murder had been committed under peculiarly horrible cir-
cumstances, as it was found the lower part of the abdomen
bad been cut away. The Jury, however, it will be seen, re-
turned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide while
of unsound mind.—The following is the report of the inquest
taken from The Times :

George Sibley, son of the deceased, said he lived at
home with his father, who was a wheelwright. He
had been ill since Christmas from gout and rheumatism.
When the witness awoke on Saturday morning, about
half-past eight, he missed his father, but thought that
he had gone into another room to light a fire. In half
an hour the witness got up, and then found that his
father was not in the house. The back door was un-
locked, showing that he had gone out that way.
Shortly afterwards Mr. Harris, a neighbour, came in,
and told him that his father had been murdered and
thrown into the river. The witness went to the
"Midland" Hotel, Hendon, and saw the body of
his father, On Friday the decased complained of
having severe pains in his stomach. When he had the
goat he was very low-spirited.
David Dangerfield, carrier, of Red Lion-yard,
Kilburn, said on Saturday morning he was passing
over Silk-bridge, Hendon' in a cart. He noticed a
body floating in the river Brent. He procured a rope,
threw it round the body, and dragged it to shore. He
then noticed that the lower portion of the body was
mutilated. After waiting for some time a police-con-
stable arrived, who took charge of the body.
Dr. Andrews, of Hendon, said on Saturday morn-
ing, at nine o'clock, he was called to the Silk-bridge,
Hendon, and on the bank he saw the body of the
deceased. The flannel shirt was cut in four or five
places, and upon further examination he found that
the lower portion of the abdomen was mutilated,
There was an abrasion on the forehead and nose. He
had since made a post-mortem examination of the body,
assisted by Dr. Bond. The parts which had been cut
away were found on Sunday and shown to him. The
knife produced was shown to him, and he found that
there was blood upon it. He believed that the injuries
could be produced by such a knife, In his opinion,
loss of blood in the first place and suffocation by
drowning in the second caused death. _ _

Inspector William Goldsmith, stationed at Hendon,
said that on Sunday morning he made a search for
the missing parts of the body, and by a hedge 76 feet
away from the bridge he found a hat and one portion
of the body, and about 10 feet further on another
portion of the body and the knife produced. A police-
man found a third portion of the body 100 f t. away
from the bridge. There was some blood stains on the
centre of the bridge.
Mary Ann Halsey, a daughter of the deceased, said
she saw her father on Friday, and did not notice then
that he was in a low and desponding state of mind.
During the day she saw him bring an oilstone indoors,
but she did not know if it was used for sharpening the
knife produced, which was similar to some dessert
knives which her father had. She did not believe that
he committed suicide, as he always said that he had a
great horror of such a thing. He was not on bad
terms with any one.
Thomas Harris, a blacksmith, said the deceased had
complained of his head aching so much that it nearly
distracted him. A week ago he made use of the ex-
pression "that he should be the next to go."
Dr. Frederick Earl, of Edgware, said he believed
that of late the deceased had been in bad health, and
his mind seemed affected.
Dr. Thomas Bond, of Westminster Hospital, and
police surgeon to the Metropolitan Police, said he was
sent by the Criminal Investigator to inquire into this
case, and was present at the examination made by
Dr. Andrews. He fully agreed with his evidence.
He was of opinion that the mutilation was self-
inflicted, and that the deceased afterwards walked
to the bridge and, clambering over, threw himself
into the water.

The jury returned a verdict that the deceased com-
mitted suicide while of unsound mind.