The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1873-10-07 00:00:00

IIkENHULL

DwrnentseD BUICTISL—Tbe inquest on James
Commies, who jumped into the river and was drowned,
was held before Mr. Coconut Leach, coroner. Jlary
Ann Coonthee, wife of the demand, said oh September
24th, about throe o'elook in the afternoon, I went with
my busbind to fetch woe water. Hs said nothing on
his win down to the neer, and stirred both buckets.
On getting to the water be put them down on the
beak, and immediately jumped into the water. His
fano was in the water, but he was in • stooping
position. I tried to get him out, but could not reach
hint. I saw Silas Dean, and celled to him, but could
not make him hear. I ran to him, and he gime down
and got my husband out of the water. He was then
quite dead. A fortnight ago he came out of the
union, where he had been a .xionth. It wee not my
wish that be should oome out. I was of opinion that
before he went into the union he was not in his right
mind. When be oame out In seemed worse than when
be went in. He threatened to ant his throat with
a table-knife. I brought him to Sturminster to
see it:. Leath. He started off, and I saw him
no more until Tunday, when the policemen brought
him to me. We then went to • public house,
and there he had • pint of ale; it seemed to make
hint wane, and stetted him very much. Silas Dew
labourer, working for the Rev. B. B. Kennard. said
deceased's wife curie to me and sold "Poor Coombes is
in the river.' I went is aboel lea enemies era intarler
Oats Anse and saw him in • stooping position on his
folded arms and knees, end could see the length of his
beak and the bank of kb heed. He wee about eight
feet from the bank. The water was, I should thick,
four or five feet deep. I could nob walk in. I mane
back and fetched moistener, to get him out. John
Gilpin, turnpike-mite keeper mid, on the previous day
from information be indeed, be found deceased in a
ditch near the river and asked him •Int be we, about.
He pointed to the river and said "That's my doom."
I remonstrated with him and tried to get Um away.
He refused to some, saying "I was ordered to stay here
and starve myself before Iye Into the river. I Ilses
killed my wife and daughter, and now I roost kill
myfelf." Then worts he repeated several times. I
then fetched a policeman and accompanied them to the
neon-bonen P.C. Miller wont to the ditch where be
found drowned sitting on the bank. I asked him what
he was there for. He replied he did not know, he had
been there since yorterday. I watt with him to the
union. Some food was offered him by the master and
matron, which he refused, and said Iles his wife wee
dead, and the virawsle would not r:o him say good. I
then went on with him towards limmhull, and met his
wife, and 2•VII him up to her. Mr. Leach, ate of the
medical °ethers of the intim, put in his book, in which
was the following entry under date August 12th
"James Coombs., Mani hall, recommended for admission
into the union house, or the county asylum, as he has
become melancholic, with • niaidal tendency." The
jury unartimoitsly returned an their verdlet —" Thai
the deceased James Coumbes committed suicide whilst
In • mate of permanent insanity, and the Jury strouily
express their opinion that, after such a medial report,
the deceased ought not to have been let out of the
union ; but there is no tividenee before them by whose
authority he left."