The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1881-04-23 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

DISTRESSING SUICIDE IT BARROW.—A melancholy case of suicide occurred at Newbarns on Tuesday afternoon. The unfortunate man, whose name was Patrick Carr, has been a resident of Barrow for about seventeen years, having come from Ballymena, in the County Antrim, when quite a youth, and was employed in the Shipyard for scan time, but has for upwards of ten years beer gar denei`at Fairfield House, where he had gained the esteem of all in the neighbourhood and the confidence of his employers—Messrs. Fisher Brothers. It will be in the recollection of many of our readers of the heroie way in which Carr saved the life of Mr. Joseph Fisher's son at the time of the sinking of the "Black Eagle" in Walney Channel, and of his unsuccessful efforts to rescue another child.—An inquest was held on his body on Wednesday afternoon, bsfore the district Coroner (Mr. John Poole), and a jury, Mr. Henry Stuart, foreman —The first witness called was Letitia McCaveney, who said that she was a domestic servant with Mr. Fisher, at Fairfield House, Newbarna, and she knew the deceased Patrick Carr. He lived with Mr. Fisher as gardener, and had done so for some years. He was 38 years of age and was unmarried. She last saw him alive at 11 o'clock on Tuesday momsin the house. She spoke to him and he appeared rather dull. He seemed careless about taking his food for about a mouth. He was not as cheerful as usual. He complained of being ill, but not to such an extent as to consult a doctor. He followed his work as usual. She had never heard him speaking of putting himself away. He had not been drinking. When he did not come to dinner she sought for him about the place, but could not find him. About half. past five in going into the stable she found him hanging from a hook in the ceiling by a rope that was fastened around his neck. She gave the alarm and P.C. Asher came. So far as she knew there was no cause for him committing the act. —P.C. Alexander Asher said that from information received at half-past five on Tuesday, he went to Mr. Fisher's stables and there found the deceased hanging from a crook in the beams of the wiling. He was quite dead although not quite cold. He searched him and found the pocket knife produced and a silver lever watch. He was in his working clothes as if after leaving off, without his jacket. —Mr. Fisher said that deceased was in his employ. He last saw him at a quarter past nine the previous day. He woke to him in passing and saw nothing extraordinary. He looked the same as usual. He did not notice him at work in the garden. He knew of nothing whatever to cause him to do what he had done.—The Coroner in summing up said the deceased was a man who was well known to the jury. The last time be had seen him was when giving evidence at an inquest which gave testimony to the deceased having then performed a meritorious and brave act in saving life. It was a most unlikely thing to expect that a man of his character should have taken his own life. In the evidence nothing had transpired to show why he had taken his own life. The evidence of the domestic servant was of the most importance, as she had greater facilities for noticing him during the day than his employer or others, and her statement as to him being in a dull state of mind was the only thing which led to show a cause for his eommitting suicide. —The jury, after a brief consultation, brought in a verdict that deceased committed suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity. You can get oysters all the year round at Broadbent's. [4385 Use Margerison's Registered White Windsor Curd. Soap, Preston. The best Soap in England for washing clothes, or any household purpose. In two tn:pe, pounds 40., bars 2d. each.—Ask for Margerison's Soap, and see that the word MARGERISON is on every I bar, as there are so many worthless imitatimui. [340