The Haslingden Gazette. — 1907-08-17 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

YEARS OF SUFFERING  CLAYTON WOMAN HANGS HERSELF.  A MERCIFUL VIEW.  After suffering from rheumatism for the long period of 23 years, Margaret Heys (53), a single woman, who resided with her niece at 19, Blackburn-road, Clayton-le-Moors, put an end to her sufferings on Monday afternoon by hanging herself. Owing to the rheumatism deceased was infirm, and she attended to the house whilst her niece wont to the mill. She was all right at noon on Monday, but when a next door neighbour tried the door of the house during tho afternoon she found it locked. About five o'clock she suspected that something untoward had hap ported, and she called deceased's nephew, who, on entering tho house, found his aunt hanging by a rope in the front room. The body was immediately cut down and medical aid summoned, but life was extinct.  The inquest was held at Clayton-le-Moors police station on Tuesday morning ,before the deputy, coroner, Mr. D. M. Haslewood.  Margaret Alice Houghton, weaver, 19, Blackburn-road, said deceased was her aunt, and she lived with her. Deceased did not follow any employment, as she had suffered a great deal from rheumatism for the last 23 years. She was not a teetotaler, but was a very steady woman. She was medically attended up to about two months ago. About 1-25 p.m. on Monday witness left tho house to go to her work, deceased then being in the house clearing the dinner table. Witness did not soe her alive again.  The Coroner: Had she ever tkreatened to do anything at herself?  Witness: No. Did she appoar to be in her usual health mond spirits'—Yes.  Bade you "Good afternoon" whom you went out ?—Yes.  Had she any trouble of any sort ?—No.  No financial- trouble ?—No.  Margaret Alice Halstead, 21, Blackburn-road, said she had known deceased for a number of years. About 2 o'clock on Monday, witness was in her backyard when she saw the deceased looking through the kitchen window of her house. She spoke to deceased who replied, and then witness re-entered her house. About half an hour later she went to the back door of deceased's house, but found it fast. Witness thought deceased had gone out, and about 4-45 she again wont to the door, but found it still fast. She then went to Mrs. Hoyle's, deceased's sister, of 200, Whalley-road, but found that deceased was not there. Witness began to be alarmed, as deceased had not been quite well lately, and had not been herself. It was also unusual for her to go out. Witness informed Thomas Counsel!, deceased's nephew. He obtained admittance to the house, and discovered deceased hanging. Witness had never heard her threaten to do anything to herself. Rheumatism had made deceased very lame, affecting both her arnts and legs. In fact, she was practically a cripple. She always seemed to be bad. Thorns. Counsel!, 200, Whalley-road, defseafted'a nephew, said he went to deceased's house abort five o'clock on Monday night, and he found all the doors fast. He broke a window and entered the kitchen. He found deceased in the front room. She was hanging by a piece of rope from a hook attached to the spier. He at once cut her down, and called in Dr. Clegg, who found life was extinct.  Was she able to reach thee floor with her feet, or was she suspended from the floor? Witness: Her feet were about five or six inches from the floor. Witness added that deceased had not threatened to commit suicide in hie presence, but she had been very depressed lately on account of the rheumatism.  A Juror Have you any idea how she got the rope on the hooks Witness: She had put a rush-bottomed Asir in the corner, with a small footutool. She must have climbed off the footstool on to the chair, put the rope on the hook, and then dropped off. The Deputy-Corener said that from the evidence deceased appeared to have suffered very severely from rheumatism, and it would be a merciful verdict if the jury found that she was of unsound mind when she oommitted the act which deprived her of life. He suggested that course to them. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with this recommendation.