The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1909-08-11 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

MAN CUTS HIS THROAT AND PROLONGED HIS LIFE.  SINGULAR REVELATIONS AT.. AN INQUEST.  Mr. J. C. Bate (Coroner for West Cheshire) held an inquiry at the Central Hospital on Monday .into the circumstances attending the death of Robert Battersby Wood (52), a retired master mariner, of 85, Rice-lane, Egremont, who was found in the bathroom with his throat cut on the 16th July. _ _  The Coroner explained that the deceased lodged with a person named Ellen Sarah Phillipson, and she stated that on the 16th July deceased was in a chair in his bedroom and appeared to be suffering pain. He had been suffering for some time. He asked her to go downstairs for a drink of lemon water, and when she returned she discovered that he had left the bedroom and locked himself in the bathroom. On his dressing table was an empty razor case. Ile refused to open the bathroom door, and said he had nearly done for himself. Mrs. Phillipeon •sent her daughter for a medical man, and. when Dr. Seymour Davies arrived deceased opened the door, and it was then seen that he had cut his throat. He had been attended by Dr. Seymour Davies for some time. He died on Saturday last. _ . _ _  Frederick' Partington Wood, of 37, A_nnesiey-road, Seacombe, said that deceased had suffered for some time from heart disease, which caused him terrible pain. He saw deceased an the 16th July after he had out his throat. He said he did not know what he was doing, the pain was so insupportable. Mrs. PhiHinson said the deceased had lodged with her fourteen months. He I suffered with his heart, and was often in great pain. On the 16th July, when she , found that he had left his bedroom and had entered the 'bathroom, she knocked at the door after he had been there a short tune. But he answered that he was all right. Subsequently she noticed in his bedroom an empty reser case, and she went to the bathroom and knocked again. Ho still said he was all right. Eventually she became alarmed and insisted on de-1 ceased opening the door. He replied he did not want her to see the mess; he had nearly done for himself. She sent her daughter for the doctor' and when deceased heard his voice he opened the door. Witness then saw that he was standing over the bath, and he said, "Ohl 18 that you doctor?" The razor was by the aide of him, and he was bleeding profusely. Dr. Lyburn, house surgeon at the Central RaaPital, said that the deceased was admitted to that institution on the 17th of July -suffering, from a severe wound in the throat, about 4 inches in length and 2i inches deep. The main artery was not cut, but it was grazed and exposed. Deceased was suffering from chronic disease of the heart. Had he not cut his throat and thus relieved .the pressure on the heart he would probably have died at the tune. The cutting of his throat saved his lif.i for the time being, but it weakened his constitution, and when he had another attack he Nis unable to withstand it. He might have survived the second attack if he had not been weakened by cutting his throat. By a Juror: He was unable to swallow, and was fed by a stomach pump. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound