The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-09-27 00:00:00

LAXGPORT.
SAD SUICIDE OP A TRADESMAN.

One of the oldest tradesmen of the to Mr. Jame,
Cable, a baker and corn merchant, rei
sidng in Bow.
street, committed suicide on Thursday evening by
cutting his throat. Deceased, who was 59 ysan of
as, and the oldest member of the Langport Was
was • bachelor and had for many years
carried on • go id business in the town, and was much
respected. Lately several mysterious till robberiet
have been committed in the shop on daturday nights,
and this and other losses seem to have preyed on the
mud of deceased. Within the last few weeks he has
been very low and depressed, both physically and
mentally, and has neglected hie books. Dr. Brooke
had attended him for about a fortnight, saw him
on Thursday, considered him better, and advised
him to have • change. He took his meals as usual on
Thursday, and at about 8.30 in the evening he went
upstairs alone. About five minutes alter, Mrs.
Holloway went up and found him on the door of his
bedroom covered with blood. She raised an alarm,
and Mr. E. G. Perren clerk in the Sack Company
Offices, who was there making up_decessed'a booluN
went up and found him dying. He had a frightful
gash in his throat and • rasor in his right hand. Dr.
Brooke and his assistant were speedily on the spot, but he
died immediately. Deceased appears to have stood in
front of the looking-glass and severed all the arteries.
The inquest on the body was held on Friday afternoon
when the following evidence was given:—
Harriet Holloway, housekeeper to deceased, said
within the last few weeks she notioei a change in his
health, which had been failing and had not been able to
attend to his badness is usual. He had been attended
by Dr. Brooke for • fortnight. He had oomplained of
a pain in his head, and was very low spirited The
last time he went into the shop was in the afternoon.
He took his dinner and tea as usual on Thursday.
She saw him go upstairs to his bedroom about eight
o'clock in the evening. A few minutes afterwards she
went upstairs, and on looking in deceased's bedroom
saw him in one corner and a lot of blood about hint.
She at once called to Mr. Edward Perrin, who was
downstairs, and he at once came up.
Edward George Perron, • clerk in the employ of the
West of England Sack Company, said he went to
derma/errs house about seven o'clock on Thursday
evening, and noticed deceased seemed very it ange.
He peered up and down the office several times, and
then went out. He refused to take his medicine,
although asked repeatedly to do so by Mrs, Holloway.
A short time ago he told witness he had some losses,
which were too much for him. About hslf-past eight
ck he heard deceased going upstairs. Mrs.
Holloway followed him with • candle at ors" and re-
nested him to come back and take his medicine.
Deceased came back directly into the office, and
booked at witness, and walked up and down again for
• few minutes. He suggested that he should sit down
and take a little sleep. He came and sat down for a
miiiute, and then went upstairs to his bedroom.
About five minutes afterwards he thought d-osased
ought not to be left alone, and said so te Mrs. Holloway,
who took a candle and went upstairs. She at mica
called out, and witness, with Mrs. Holloway, went
upstairs. He saw Mr. C•ble in • corner of the room,
with his head leaning • little forward. He saw an
awful gash in his throat, and blood streaming out. He
raised his head, but did not speak to him, as he
thought him dead. He was near the dressing-table,
in the drawers of which be kept his razors. He
thought there some drops of blood on the table-cover.
He saw the razor in the right hand of deceased; it
was smeared with bided. He believed deceased
troubled shout his debts.

----;ll—"Kii7-67, James Tow is auctioneer, du, said deceased
washiiuncle, and he was 59 years of age. About
four years ago when his books were in a backward
state, he seemed like a man suffering from nervous
depression, and said it was more than he could granola
with. What he thought bad preyed more on his mind
during th past six week. h tcl been two till robberies
in both his Saturdays' takings. lie had hear i him
say that if these looses continued he did not know
whet the end would he. Oct S.turday last he made
up his caah.book. and he seemed most childish in his
manner, and in consequence he fetched the doctor for
his

Dr. Brooke, who had been attending the deceased
since Saturday, said he had been very low spirited,
and complained of pains in his head. Elie appeared to
have something on his mind.
The Jury returne I a verdict of "Temporary
Insanity," awl the Coroner, on behalf of himself and
the jury, spoke most feelingly of the deceased, and
said that the relatives of the deceased had their heart.
feltisympathy in this their heavy bereavement.