Penistone, Stocksbridge and Hoyland Express, etc. — 1913-12-27 (Penistone, South Yorkshire, England)

STOLKSBRIDGE SHOOTING TRAGEDY.  Blacksmith Shoots Himself with a Rifle. .  "I Have Reached the End."  Pathetic Letter.  At the Stocksbridge Works Institute on Fri an inquest was held by Mr. J. lien,yon rardkaeyr, coroner. concerning the death of lieorge Booth lloorhouse (24), of Providence q,oekshridge who committed suicide by shooting himself with a rifle on Wednesday afternoon, during the absence of his landlady. mr, Annie Gladys Hadfield. Langsett terrace, Stocksbridge, said deceased was her brother and was a blacksmith at Messrs. Samuel Fox and Co.'s works. She last saw him alive just a month ago that day. He had not been a healthy man for the last three years; he suffered from nervous debility, which at times prevented him from working. Deceased was low-spirited at times, but she had never heard him threaten himself. Mary Ellen Heatheote, Providence place. said she heard a noise about 5-25 p.m. on Wednesday, like the sound of a gun going off, and it came from Mrs. Foulstone's house, next door. '" • '  Did you think anything was wrong at the time?—No; she knew deceased had a rifle, and she thought it had gone off in the corner of the house where it was kept. She did not know that anything was wrong until Mr. foulstone came home, shortly afterwards. Harry Foulstone, sanitary pipe nninnfactimer, with whom deceased lodged, said the deceased had lived at his house for the last eight months. Has he during that time threatened suicide? No, sir. . _  , Has he ever wished he were dead?—Yee. sir ;_ because he was poorly.  Witness came home from work on Wednesday at about 5-35. Deceased was calling for help. He (wit new) went upstairs and tound deceased kneeling, with his arms on the bed. He was groaning, and the ride was laid on the bed, the butt end pointed towards the window and the muzzle towards deceased. Witness went downstairs and asked a neighbour to fetch the doctor. He then got someone to help him and laid deceased on the rug to see what he had done, and they found a bullet-mark just above the bean:, on the Do you think deceased shot himself 2—Yes.  Witness Portlier stated that he thought ' deceased had got low in his mind, and had no benefits; he knew no other reason, beyond that deceased was in debt, with no prospects • of pulling himself round. Who found this letter ?—The doctor picked It up, and he (witness) afterwards read it. The police took possession of it. Witness further stated that deceased got up to go to his work on Monday morning, and when 4/ was washing himself he fell down, and witmess picked him up. He was not well, and did not go to work. The rifle, he thought, belonged to the liolsterstona Rifle Association, of which deceased was assistant secretary. Dr. W. 31. Robertshaw said he had attended deceased for about six months, for anaemia and debility. He had known deceased all his life. He had a peculiar temperament —very erratic. It was about three weeks since he lust attended him. He had not the least idea he would commit suicide. He was called to the house on Wednesday evening about six o'clock. Deceased was alive when he arrived, but died about five minutes afterwards. Death was due to internal haemorrhage, caused by the shot. The wound was in the middle of the chest. The skin was blackened, which showed that the muzzle of the rifle must have been close to his body when the shot was fired. In his opinion the wound was self-inflicted. The Coroner read the letter left by Moot-house, as follows: To Mr. Foulstone.—Dear Harry.—l wish to express my thanks for the great kindness I have met from you and Mrs. Foidstone. No doubt you will both be shocked at what I have done, but I hope you will think as kindly as possible of me. I have reached the end of my hand. My prospects are in no way improved. All sick benefits are about done, and it seems absurd to suppose that I shall be able to work regularly. So I feel I must give in. You will find an envelope marked "private," with instructions inside as to what to do with regards to paying debts, etc.--Good bye and kind regards,