The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1871-11-04 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE.  On Tnesday afternoon Dr. Handwicke held an inquest at the .• Castle,- Holloway, Lontion,voneernina the death of a man, name unknown, about thirty years of age. • • •  Mr. William Henry Dunkin, 1, Goldsmith's-square, South Hornsey, sold on Saturday evening, about halfpast six o'clo,k, he was visiting at the house of Mr. Brett, surgeon, Stoke Newington-green, when one of the servaNts came into the dining. room and told him that a man was killing some one on the green. She had heard shrieks, and some one calling out that he would murder him. He went out and saw deceased in is state of great excitement standing in the road shnutins and waving his hands, and calling out, "1 am mined ; T have committed murder ; no one will save me. I will kill myself !'' He endeavoured to get some one to hold deceased, but two working-men who passed at the tune, though entreated, refused to render any assistance, and walked away, saying that the man was in Blum-. The deceased then bent his body forward and ran against a tree, hie head striking against it with treat violence.  Hs staggered into the roadway shouting, but not so violently as before. He then knelt down, said with clasped hands said, "I have been stricken by the Almighty, and I call upon Him to have mercy upon me ! ' After uttering these words he got up and walked towards the railings that surround the green. About a minute afterwards deceased fell on his face, and he thought that the deceased was to exhausted that he had fainted. The night was very dark, and it was impossible to see what the deceased was doing, but on going up to him he saw that his throat was cut, and a pool of blood was near him. Seeing what had occurred he ran to a neighbouring publichouse, where he found a young man, who returned with him, when they found a,sigauce had arrived. Hr. George Stevens, M.R.C.S., Stoke I'ewington-I,Teen, said he was called to see the deceased on Saturday night about half-past six o'clock. He was dead, but the body was quite warm. There were two severe wounds on the throat. He saw a penknife lying on the right side of the body, the small blade open and covered with blood. The cause of death was fainting from loss of blood. Policeman David Wansby was called to decease and found him dead. He searched the pockets, and found in the breast pocket a letter enclosed in an envelope but not addressed. It ran thus :--" October, 28, 1871. Dear M.,— Forgive me and spare all. I know I slid commit my ,slf. If not I—l have suffered. Yours, itc., Anon's." Theye was also found sixpence in silver wet the same amount in bronze. . . .  Henry Hutch, butcher, Stoke Newington-road, WM attracted to the green on Saturday night by the screams of the deceased, who was calling out, "I have offended my Cod." Ile attempted to hold deceased, but was unable to do so. He became alarmed, as deceased threatened to take his life repeatedly. The deceased remarkeel repeatedly, "Carey has been the cause of all." Had assistance been rendered the life of deceased would have been saved.  The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while of unsound mind."  At this point a Mr. Hare, 85, Church-street, Essexroad, entered the court, and asked permission to see the body. On his return he said he believed the deceased was a person he knew, a clerk, who was six years ago confined in the Distim-road Lunatic Asylum, Birmingham. He had been discharged, and was living in London; but he had been missing for some days. He had been induced to make inquiries, as he had seen a notice of the suicide in the newspapers of that The Coroner said he Lad no doubt that the deceased was the person referred to, but the friends should have an opportunity of identifying the body.