The Northern Guardian. — 1894-06-13 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

THE WEST HARTLEPOOL SUICIDE.  INQUEST.  -'''''T"'  At the Alma Hotel, last night—before Mr Coroner Settle—an inquest was held on the body of Thomas Cornforth Flowers (55), lath render, residing at 12, Ward Street, whose sad death by suicide was reported in Monday's Guardian.  The first witness called was deceased's son, Thomas Flowers, a plumber, who stated that he last saw his father alive at about 11.25 a.m. or. Sunday morning, when he was going out, saying, as he did so, that he would be back in about 15 minutes. However, he did not return, and word was sent to the Police Station. _ .  The Coroner: Had you any fear that your father was going to do anything to himself?  Witness No-, sir. The Coroner: Have you noticed any alteration in his manner lately? Witness : Well, he has been depressed a little, but not to cause any fear. Frederick Taylor (14), sworn, deposed to finding the body of deceased in a grasp field, on Catcote Farm, his attention being drawn to the fact by the cows all standing in a group around the body. Witness spoke to deceased to see whether he was alive or not, but on receiving no answer, and observing blood, he communicated with his master (Mr Robson), who informed the police. The Coroner: Was there a footpath through the field?  Witness : Yes, sir. The Coroner: How far was the body from the footpath? Witness: Some 100 yards. Sergeant Dunn then gave evidence. He said that about 7.30 on Sunday night, he received word to the effect that a man had committed suicide in a field at Catcote. On proceeding there he found the deceased lying on his left side, his left arm being under his head. The Coroner : Was the body cold or warm? Witness : Warm. The Coroner: The trunk? Witness : Yes. The Coroner: Was the throat cut? Witness : Yes, sir, from left to right. The Coroner: Was there only one wound? Witness: Only one, sir. I could see the artery severed in his neck.  Sergeant Dunn, continuing, stated that there was a quantity of blood on the ground and also on deceased's breast. On looking round he also observed a pool of blood 12 yards away in the hedge bottom, and the grass there was pressed down as if deceased had laid on it.  The Coroner: How do you account for that? Witness ; Oh, deceased had evidently cut his throat there and crawled away. •  On searching the body, the Sergeant found in deceased's right-hand trousers' pocket a blood. stained pocket-knife, apparently the one with which the rash act had been committed. He also found in the same pocket, amongst other articles, his purse, containing 15s and 9i, and in his waistcoat was his watch. The watch was going at the time, and registered six minutes past eight. A few yards away deceased's umbrella was found closed op. The Sergeant then conveyed the body to 12, Ward Street, the deceased's home, on a cart. The Coroner: Was the knife sharp? Witness: Rather.  In reply to the Coroner, Sergeant Dunn stated that he had heard that deceased, some time ago, suffered from a strong attack of influenza, and also that he hurt his eye by a lath. Cooner Settle then asked if it was true that deceased had had any relations who had committed suicide, and, in reply, Sergeant Dunn said he had heard in an off-hand manner that either a friend or relation had some time ago taken away his life. He was unable to say whether it was true. He had also heard that a few days ago the deceased received a telegram stating that a friend of his at Durham had committed suicide. _  The jury, in summing up, returned a verdict of Suicide during temporary insanity.'