Daily Republican., 1879-09-02
JOHN ASH's SAD DEATH.
Tno Corener's Inquest Yssterdsy-
The Testimony Elicitsd aad the
Verdict Of the jury.

Tno COroner's Inquest Yesterdav--
The Testimony Elicitsd and the
Verdict Of the Jury.
| A special to the REPUBLICAN in our
is1s edition Of yesterday. Informed our
readers of the suicide OF Jno. G., Ash, 4
former resident Of Wilmington, and an
old and highly respected farmer of
Penoader Hundred. Mr.. Ash had sew.
eral relatives in this city, and in ad-
dltion had made great many friends
both during his residence here and
through his semi-weekly visits to our
market, and great deal Of sympathy
is expressed for the sad ending of his
life. That he was laboring under men
tai alteration the testimony of the wit
nesses clearly proved. The home of
the deceased, where the suicide was
committed, is substantial farm house,
situated about quarter of a mile from
Iron Hill, and some three and q half
miles from Newark.
Coroner Butz repaired to the scene
yesterday afternoon, in answer to the
telegram quoted in our issue Of yestsr-
day, and without difficulty secured the
following jury:
Jas. H. Ray, Jno. Atkinson, II. T.
Riddell, Jno. H. Todd, Isaac Whitaker,
VIM. H. Russell, L. W. Palmer, Rev.
Geo. J. Porter, Jas. H. Armstrong, T..
Mob. Caulk, Alex. W. Carlisle, Bayard
Whithers. NJ tH0YI3 q
The inquest began about 3 O'Clock,
when the following witnesses we're OK
amined.
Stephen Ash, son Of the deceased.
testified that he saw his father hang
ing first, out of the west window, about
half-past one o'clock; he had nervous,
spells for some days previous to this; !;
he had been going to Wilmington as
usual he had got up in the night say
ing he wanted togo out in the yard;
he got rope and hung himself on the
west porch. ny
Howard Ash testified that he was in
bed when his neither called his father; !;
and as she received no answer, he went
down and found him hanging on the,
west porch ; on Sunday week he made
an attempt to end his life and failed,
and they watched him since; on Sunday
night he went to church after much.
persuasion.
Mrs. CathariRe Ash, wife of the de-
ceased testified: He had left his room
about one O'Clock; he was not out half
an hour; couldn't see him hanging:
was looking out of the west window,
and as l could not see him called my
son; he showed symptoms Of insanity;
all of the time fearing that he was COM
ing to want; he tried once before to COM
NIT suicide; | accused him Of it aud he
said "Never mind, it's all right" he
was fifty-eight years Of age in June last
and has been married twenty-five
years. ,...,. .45.4.
Chas. Walton, SON. -in-law of deceased,
testified: eWas awakened early this
morning by Mrs. Ash's son, who said
his father had hung himself. He went
over and they had taken him down; he
was quite dead he has had spells more
or less ever since knew him; he was
melancholy and did not take an inter-
est in anything; it was two o'clock
when l lett home; two weeks ago he
took an ounce of laudanum and threw
it up.
At the close of the testimony tho
jury rendered verdict that John G..
Ash came to his death by hanging him
self while latoring under mental aber-
4tion.
The body will be inferred at Otis
Meeting Housr, tomorrow morning, at.
~.