The Sun. — 1842-01-06 (London, England)

SUICIDE AT CHESTERFIELD.  Between one and two o'clock on the morping of Saturday last, the inhabitants of Beetwell-street, Chesterfield, were alarmed by the shrieks of a female, whom, it afterwards proved was the wife of a stockinger named Gager, who put an end to his existence by cutting his throat with a razor. Deceased has left a wife and five children to deplore their melancholy loss. We understand deceased was in the army many years, but had no retiring pension, and that latterly his health bad given way very much. Though not in. a state of absolute destitution, the family have suffered much from want of proper nourishment.  - At five o'clock on Saturday evening_ an is quest was held at the Spread Eagle, before Mr: Hutchinson, Coroner.  Elizabeth Gager sworn—My husband was fifty-five years of age. He kept his bed for the last six weeks, owing to ill health, which was originally caused by palpitation of the heart. He doseil most on Saturday, and was quite still, but at dusk hour he became as if his brain was gone. He got up once or twice in the nigh and walked about the chamber, pulling himself as if he would tear the flesh from his bones. He repeatedly said, " What a night this will be What a wearisome night this will be !" and added, " All this yard won't hold me, I know !" This was between eight and nine o'clock. Having some clothes to mangle (for I earned a few shillings" occasionally by washing), I went out, leaving my eldest, lad with him. During cry absence he sent the lad doivn stairs to the youngest child, which was in the cradle. When I got home again, I said to my lad, " How comes thou to be down stairs ?" He said, "My father sent me down." I then went up stairs to see how he was going on," and found him beating his hands and jumping out of bed. I reasoned with him as well as I could; his answer was, " It will be of no use ! it will be of no use !" He afterwards laid him• self down, and seemed more tranquil. I asked him what he would have for his supper ? He said " Nothing." I tried to persuade hilas to have a bit of something, and he then said, " Well, I think I will have a mouthful ;" and I fried him a bit of lean mutton, which he ate very greedily. I went down stairs to starch a. few caps, and went up stairs again between eleven and twelve o'clock ; he was then quite raging mad, and on my entering the room he raised himself in bed, and ordered me to go out of the room and fetch somebody. I objected at first, saying I'must not fetch Mrs. Camomile again, as she was up with him last night. He then got out of bed and went to the adjoining room to look at the three children who were in bed, and on finding them awake he said, " Oh, what you are • wakened,' I see." He then attempted to push me down stairs, saying I must fetch some one, for he could not live. 1 told him Mrs. Camomile was in bed ; but I went down stairs and pulled the fire together, thinking he would be more reconciled. This must be between twelve and one o'clock. After I bad put the fire together I heard a dreadful groan, but before I got to the . foot of the stairs I heard my eldest boy (who was one of the three in bed) shout " Oh, my father is cutting his throat, mother !" I could not go further, but ran out of the house and give an alarm. Mrs. Camomile and others came. I have not been in the house since. My husband enjoyed poor health for the last twelve years, and could not earn much wages on that account. He has not had sufficient to eat. What little I earned was not enough to maintain us. I have had four loaves a week for the last three weeks from the Union, and last week four loaves ar d Is. 6d. in money. The town surgeon attended my husband. He kept his razors in a cupboard by the bed side. The Juiy having no doubt that the deceased committed the deed whilst in a state of insanity, returned a verdict accordingly.