The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1887-08-31 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

SUICIDE OF AN EX-BUS DRIVER.  A sad case of suicide was reported to the police on Saturday morning. It appears that a middle•aged man named Herbert Wildgoose, of 5, Pym-street, about a week ago left a situation as 'bus driver for the Birkenhead and District Omnibus Company, which he had held for many years, to commence business for himself as fish dealer. He purchased a pony and trap, and went about hawking his fish, but he appears not to have done such a large trade as he anticipated. On Friday night he said to his wife that he was afraid the fish business would not pay, and he seemed rather anxious over the matter. He went to bed some time afterwards apparently in good spirits, and rose on Saturday morning about five o'clock. When his wife went downstairs she could not get into the kitchen and fearing her husband had committed suicide she called in some neighbours to her assistance. They broke into the kitchen by the back window and found the deceased hanging by a rope from a piece of wood projecting over the door. Medical assistance proved of no avail.  The inquest was held on Monday before Dr. Churton, the district coroner.  Jane Wildgoose, wife of the deceased, said her husband was formerly driver of an omnibus between Birkenhead and Claughton. He had followed this occupation for the last twenty-five years and only relinquished it a week ago last Friday. He was 43 years of age last May. He had been troubled with pains in his head for many years and could not sleep at nights. She did not know that this induced him to give up 'bus driving, but he had got the idea he could improve himself by going into business. With this idea he bought a pony and cart and entered on the fish trade. He did not succeed as he expected, not being able to dispose of his fish. He had a wife and nine children to keep by his earnings and felt downhearted at his want of success. On Friday afternoon he was crying. She told him not to fret, and thinking his head was the cause of his trouble she gave him a seidlitz powder. Sometimes when his head was very bad he had said it was enough to make any man do away with himself. On Saturday morning she got up early and found that her husband had risen before her. She then went downstairs and tried to open the kitchen door, but it was fast. The thought at once came to her that her husband "had done something" to himself and she ran and told her neighbours. Three men came to her assistance. She never saw her husband suspended, but did see him after he was cut down. They fetched two doctors, who tried to restore him to consciousness, but could not. She had perceived no alteration in his manner or conduct before be came home , on Friday afternoon, and then he seemed much depressed. The Coroner said he had no doubt the deceased had suffered a good deal from depression of spirits owing to his not succeeding in his new business.  Eliza Charters, a neighbour, said she knew tiie deceased. On Saturday morning she heard a scream in the street. She knew the noise came from Mrs. Wildgoose's house and went in. Three men had then just cut the deceased down. The cord was still round his . neck when she saw him. He appeared to have put a piece of wood over the door and fastened the rope to it. A chair was near the place and the deceased appeared to have stood on it until he had fastened the rope round hie neck, She asked the men if he was dead, and they replied that the lower part of his body was quite cold. A policeman then came in and worked the arms and body of the deceased about, trying to restore him. Soon afterwards Dr. O'Reilly and another medical gentleman appeared on the scene, and they did the same for a long time but without effect; life appeared to be quite extinct. By the Coroner : She saw the deceased when he returned about half-past two on Friday afternoon. The neighbours bought the greater part of the fish. The jury returned s verdict that deceased had committed suicide whilst in • state of temporary insanity.