The Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester Telegram. — 1877-01-19 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

NVEILEIHOT. SUICIDE  An inquest was held at the County Prison on Friday. on the body of Joseph Davis, who had committed nitride. It was held before Mr. Alderman Lock (deputy-coroner), and Mr. J. R. Taylor was the foreman of the jury, who were—Messrs. J. P. Soundy, 11. Lewin, J. Harrington, H. Legg, T. Randall. W. Garland, H. W. Rigler, T. Hawker, T. Rogers, C. Parsons, and R. Hunt. On being sworn • juryman objected that he was eligible on the ground that he was not a householder. The coroner asked him if he was of age, and • resident of Dorchester. Being answered in the allirmatiee, he told Uri that was quite sufficient. The body of the deceased presented a very placid appearance. The throat was bound round, but it was apparent he had been half starved. A son of deceased, a labourer, of Rampishain, stated his father had been living in that parish by himself— under the SSW roof, but in • separate apartment He had lived there about seven or eight years, and he had witnessed nothing peculiar in him until within the last fortnight or three weeks, when they could see there was a difference. He seemed in a low condition, and they acquainted Mr. Payne, the relieving officer, with it. On the previous Thursday deceased told his son he should not live long: but they paid no attention to this, as they did not know he had anything about him with which to commit suicide. Deceased hid been twice confined in the Asylums, and had also been in the Besmineter workhouse. He had received help from his brother, and also from the union: but that, said the witness, it was " took up"—he was obliged to go to the "public to get his food, and some said it was to get drink, and that was the reason it was "took up. He was 64 years of age. On the Friday morning the deceased commenced baiting the door which separated the bedrooms of himself and his son, who sent up for his brother as he thought there was " something different." Before, however, be arrived the deceaeed came out of the house with his throat cut, and fell down. His son merged him, and carried him into their own dwelling, and then Dr. Clapcott was sent for. He was generally distracted in his conversation. In reply to the Foreman, the son said he never would have anyone to do for him ; he never had nothing cooked. He helped him what lay in his power; but be haft • family, and there was • great deal of sickness in the place. He had often "stuck' in his room for two or three days at a time. The relieving officer knew as well as he did what state he was in, and never offered to relieve him. He was offered to go into the "house," but refused to do so.  Dr. Clapcott, in his evidence, said the deceased had a most frightful wound in his throat—the windpipe and the gullett being both largely open. He poured a little water into the throat, which came out again through the wound fa the throat "like • broken pitcher." He sewed it up and dressed it. He WVA lying on • miserable floor. The bed was composed of chaff dust. 'Mere was no change of lines. lie (the doctor) wanted a blanket from the ion and • pillow, but there was none to be had. Ho had only one sot of clothes, very dirty, and no change of linen. lie gave him same brandy and  water, and in the evening saw him again. On that morning he sent a messenger to Croscombe to acquaint the relieving officer with the state he was in. its did not see him afterwards until the next morning, when he was in the hands of the police. He was very stubbont, and said he wanted to die; and being asked if he thought he was lit after trying to commit suicide, he said it didn't matter, a,' he was told to do so, and he felt he ought to, and continually day and night something had told him he must. The doctor had not the slightest doubt that the deceased was out of his mind. The wound had evidently been inflicted by a razor, and the deceased bad said that was the instrument with which he had done it. On the Monday, as he seemed better, the doctor thought be had better be removed out of the miserable place in which he was lying. There was no acute disease. On the previous Tuesday he was in the same state as he had been for years. Mr. Lawrence, governor of the gaol, deposed to the admission of the deceased into the prison on Wednesday. He died at six on that day. He (the governor) felt he should not be doing what was just were he not to bear witness to the exceeding anxiety exhibited by the Sergeant in the case, and the kind and great attention he had paid to the deceased. Dr. Good, the surgeon of the gaol, spoke to the extreme state of emaciation and exhaustion in which he found him. The wound in his throat was large enough for hint to put his four fingers in. Everything was done to rally him. Undoubtedly he died from the wound accelerated by starvation he had been • lunatic for yeara—whoni some one ought to have looked after. If he had not been half starved Dr. flood did not believe he would have died, or, at all events, so soon. He ought not to have been left in a., house with himself, and no one to look after him (no matter wham duty it was) The Coroner, in summing up, dwelt briedy upon the distressing nature of the cam, as bad • one as there could be in so far as human misery was concerned. To hint it appeared the relieving officer had somewhat neglected his duty, for he ought to have gone to the medical officer and (given him the necessary certificate, which would have thrown the responsibility upon him. The Jury found that the deceased cut his throat in a fit of temporary insanity, and that death had been accelerated by starvation. They also expressed an opinion the relieving ollicer ought to have paid a little more attention With this the Coroner said he quite agreed.  (Moral of the case"--kll7w • ;in. to die of starvation in England, and send several thousands to help • bloodthirsty lot of wretched Turks I)