The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1903-01-14 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

PNEUMONIA.  The Borough Coroner (Mr. Cecil Holden) yesterday held an inquest on the body of Robert Hughes, of Spring Cottage, tame-tearoad, Lisoa.rd, who died in the workhouse hospital, from wounds inflicted by himself on the 24th December. Dr. Stanefield, medical officer of the workhouse, stated that he was summoned to the workhouse on Ohriertmee Day, to see the man Hughee, who was suffering from a severe cut in the throat. It was a gash extending almost from ear to ear, and there were also two or three smaller cuts lower down. The man was =miens, but unable to speak,and when milk was given to him to drink it came out through the wound. The wound looked as if it was not a recent one. He communicated with Dr. Bell at New Brighton, who gave him certain information. Op the Ist January septio pneumonia set in. The wound was very foul when the man was brought in, and pus was flowing from it. Ho was getting better of the wound when pneumonia set in. Whilst he was in the hospital of the workhouse he frequently attempted to commit suicide again. Directly his hands were freed he tried to cut his throat, and once he broke from restraint and shut himself up in the lavatory. However, he was got out in a minute or two, unharmed. Proper restraint was exercised upon him, whilst he was in the institution, because of his determined suicidal tendency. Witness had made arrangements for hie removal to Chester Asylum, but the man died at 3-45 on the 11th January. William Hughes, of Wimbledon-street. Liscard, a labourer, said the deceased was his father, who was 63 years of age. He was a journeyman joiner. Some time ago his tether had a serious fall from the top of a light cart, and amongst other injanes sustained a broken collar bone. This had affected his father's health very seriously, and he had not been able to do his work properly since. In November, 1901, he cut his throat with a razor, and east taken before the Liscarel magistrates. He promised not to attempt suicide again, and the justices allowed him to go home. When he was out of ,employment he always seemed depressed. Mary Hughes, a milk dealer, of the fame address, said deceased was he; brother, and had been residing with her about six months. During that time he had done very little work, and had been very considerably depressed in consequence. She had never heard him threaten to kill himself. On the 24th December he had been mending some ehairs for her in the veld, about two o'clock in the afternoon. He remained there until five o'clock, and she went to call him to her tea. Shortly afterwards he entered the, house, and walked into the bedroom. She followed, and found him lying with all his clothes on, underneath the bedclothes, and with the blanket underneath his head. He wrote on a piece of paper a request for a drink. Even then witness did not notice anything wrong with him. She made the fire in the room, and then wanted him to get up out of bed But he refused to allow her to , touch him. Had she known that he had injured himself she would have gone out for assistance. She sat up all night with bim, becauso he seemed ill. During the whole time she at up with him she did not know he had cut his throat. She did not notice any sign of blood at all. When she tried to touch him he motioned her away. About 5 o'clock in the morning she noticed the scratch on his neck. but when she went to look at it he waved her away, and would not let her do anything.. About 8 o'clock, thinking he was very ill, ohs sent for Dr. Bell, who, upon his arrival, found that his , throat had been rut. The doctor called Inspector Bramhall. of the City Police, to go to the house, and deceased was removed in the ambulance to the Birkenhead Workhorse. _ . .  Inspector Bramhall said he knew deceased very well, and had at times seen him depressed of late. When he went to the house he found a pool of blood in the yard. From the appearance of things there evidently deceased had sat in the chair and cut his thrcat. There was not much blood ou the bed, and he spoke to deceased, who was not able to reply to him, and asked what he cut his throat with. He pointed towards the yard, whtro be found the bloodstained knife (produced). rbe Coroner expressed his opinion that the case was a very peculiar one, and the jury returned a verdict in accordance with the rnedioal evidence, and added that the man was temporarily insane when he attempted to commit suicide.