The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1901-03-13 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

TRAGEDY ON BIDSTON HILL.  :A. LIVERPOOL PUBLICAN SHOOTS HIMSELF.  On Friday last an extraordinary tragedy was discovered on Bidaton Hill. About half-past twelve in the afternoon, Mr. James hiaddocks, a resident of Claughton, found the dead body of a young man lying face downwards behind a gorse bush, below the old windmill on the Birkenhead side. There was a bullet wound lathe young man's right temple, and close to the body was found a six-chambered revolver. Police Constable Walton, the keeper of the hill, was immediately apprised of the circumstances, and by him a more minute examination of the body and its surroundings was made. Be saw that one chamber of the revolver had been used, and death was evidently caused by a shot from the revolver, presumably fired by the etrarger's own hand. Searching the pookets, hi. found several letters and a visiting oard, upon which was printed "William Ormsby, lioensee of the Victoria Hotel, 25, Whitefield-road. Liverpool." Walton removed the body into the windmill, and subsequently communicated with the Liverpool address given on the visiting card. The body wse the same evening identified as that of Mr. Ormsby, a single young man, 25 years of ag% the licensee of the hotel named, which is situated near the corner of Breckrcad, .Everton.  THE INQUEST was held at the Bidston Hotel, on Saturday eveniug, by Mr. J. Moore Dutton, deputy ooroner for West Cheshire. James Maddock-% enginenriver, 19, Ballsroad, Birkenhead, said that on Friday after-2,0011, about half-past twelve, he was walking across Bidston Hill, when he noticed a man lying hoe downwards on the ground. He shouted eo him, but on receiving no response he approached the man, and found that he was dead. He immediately rushed to a farm close by, and brought Mr. Riiximer to the spot,. Mr. Rimmer, the farmer named, said that oa Thursday afternoon, at a quarter to five. he heard the sound of a shot from the direction of the spot whore he efterwarde sew the body, but as he did not hear anything further he did not make any inquiries. Folice-constable Walton said that at one o'clock on Friday afternoon he received information from Maddock s that, while crossing Bidet= Hill, he had seen the body of a man. He aocompenied Mai:idol:due to the spot, and found the deceased lying face downwards, full length on the ground. The left arm was doubled up, and the right arm was bent underneath the breast. Only a few inches from the right hand lay a revolver. which bad contained six cartridges, one of which had been discharged. He tuned the body over, and on examination found a bullet wound in the fight temple. Tiie body was quite cold, and life had been extinct for some time. There was blood on the ground underneath the head, and the right eye was discoloured. In one pocket of deceased was a private card bearing his name and addregs, and also a number of letters, but these, contained nothing to show why he should have committed suicide. The body was conveyed to the windmill to await the inquest. Sirs. Maddreil, who stated that she had been married twice, identified the body as that of her son. She said that he was of a cheerful disposition, but was apt to worry a great deal over small business matters. In answer to the coroner, witness said she did not know until then that her son was engaged to the young lady, whose letters were found in his pocket. She would have had no objection to the engagement bad she known. Anotl several  Another relative said that deed had hundred pounds in the bank. jury agreed that deceased had commit-. suicide, but, there was a difference of opinion as to vrhether he was insane when  The  committed the act. Finally, a verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity" was returned.  -ti;4s--iiiiinest lasted two and a half hours.