Weekly News. — 1890-05-15 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

RINGWOOD SHOCKING SUICIDE. On Wednesday morning at seven o'clock Mr. John B. Tanner, a grocer, of the High Street, was found in bed with his throat cut. Medical aid Won at once procured, but the wind pipe was severed through, no the case was hopeless, and the unfortunate man succumbed shortly after ten o'clock. He was a native of the parish, and had lived in the town most of his life. He was of a genial disposition, and was generally liked, but recently he had been depressed, as about a year ago be had started business on his own account, and had not been so successful as he anticipated. He leaves a widow and three children. The Inquest was held at the Crown Hotel, Ringwood, on Thursday morning, before Mr. F. A. Job., coroner, and a I jury of whom Wm. E. Alexander was the foreman.—Ethel Tanner, daughter of the deceased, said that she last saw him alive on Wednesday morning soon after seven o'clock. She heard a knocking against a wall in the house, but she paid no attention to the knocking as her father often knocked. Then something heavy came against her bedroom door, and she heard a noise as if of gasping for breath. Her mother was out of bed and partly dressed. Witness got out of bed, and, drewing harriedly,opened the door. She saw her father's bedroom door wide open, and on going up saw him Icing on the floor. She called to him and got no reply, and then advaneed into the room and bent over him. Ile was alive hot never spoke He was lying on his left side with a razor on the floor. She ran to the top of the stairs and called to her mether, and then ran down and opened the street door and gave the alarm. She had for some time past noticed and remarked fin his actions. Ile had been very much depressed at times, took no notice of her and her mother, and often changed the conversation suddenly. He was very nervous. as if he had some great trouble hanging over him. He had been occasionally worse for drink, but of late had been very abstemious. During the bat few nights he appeared so nervous and irritable that her mother could not sleep with bins. There were some business troubles, but her father never mentioned them to hen—Mr. Henry Geary Dyer, physician and surgeon, practising at Ringwood, said that he received a call at 7.11), a messenger stating that the deceased had cut his throat, lie went at once, and called his assistant, ohs hurried on and got to the place first Ile found the deceased lying on his back in a bedroom with his throat cut. Ile examined the wound in the throat, and found the .Na indpipe sas completely Revered at its upper part. He was conscious. He got him into bed as soon as possible, with help, and sewed up the wound. After staying some thne with hinn he appeared to rally a little, and motioned for sonic water to wash his mouth out with. Witness had to catch the train to Herne, but Dr. Tennant was in attendance. The larger blood vessels were not severed, but he was afraid of bronchitis setting in, owing to the cold air e tting to the lungs. He saw the deceased professionally the eight before, and had a long talk with ham. His assistant had been attending him previously.—The Coroner: What was the nature of his corn plaint ?—Witness: I don't know whether it is a breach of confidence or not to say. If you press me, I will say.—The Coroner intimated that if it would throw light on the cause of death he should say.—Witnow said that the deceased suffered from excessive drinking. All his symptoms were due to that. On the night before, the deceased told witness that he wan giving up drink altogether now he was taking medicine. There were, of course, the natural worries Of business. His mind appeared to be right, but his assisitut told him that he was a little subject to mental aberration.— Henry Tuck, builder, said that on the evening before the death of the deceased he met him in the street. Deceased asked if he had neon that tall woman Kenn, by like a flash of lightnin . Witness said he did not, and asked where she went. said, Up School Lane." Witness saw no tall soman,but it did not strike him that deceased San under some mental aberration. Deceased said the woman's name ow, Mefferd. Ile then went indoors. On the next morning he heard the alarm given, and went in the house and found the deceased unconscious on the floor. Ile helped to get him Into bed. Witness was with hiss up to his death. Deceaeed could talk quite well, and kept on saying he was going to die, and asking far a doctor. Ito called for and drank several glasses of water. After • while, oboe.s found he wax dead, and went down and told Mrs. Tannen—Several jurymen thought that more evidence should be heard to shoo where the demased was after Tuck left him till he retired to bed—Miss Tanner was re-called and said that her father came In just before 10 o'clock. He' was nude sober, had his supper, and went to bed soon after 11.p.m —The jury returned • verdict that the deceased coin. , nutted suicide by cutting his throat, not being al Bound I