The Telegram. — 1894-02-06 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

SAD SUICIDE OF A CREATERNE TRADESMAN.  Quite a sensation was caused in the town on Sunday afternoon, when a report was spread that Mr. W. U. Smith, draper, had poisoned himself. The news at lira seemed to be discredited, and many refused to believe that the deceased, who was always of a jovial and kiwi disposition, had committed such a rash act The truth, however, soon began to leak out, arid the report, which was spread early on Sunday afternoon, proved to be only too well founded. The deceased gentleman, who had been in business in the town as a draper for stone considerable time, was respected by everyone. Hie kind and genial manner won fur him many friertds, and in his business capacity he was always exceedingly courteous and obliging, and it was, therefore, no wonder at first that the public refused to believe the sod news. It seems that on Sunday morning the deceased's wife and social ot his daughters sent to church. leaving Mr. Smith in bed. On their return Mrs. Smith found her husband in a very serious state, and at once sent for the doctor. Dr. Alford soon arrived and, seeing the serious state in which Mr. Smith was, sent for the assistance of Drs. Webber. Cave, and Hart. Although all was done to save his life, the deceased expired at about one o'clock. He leaves a widow and eight children to mourn their loss. Mr. Smith held several ~dices in the town, being a governor of the Grewkerne Grammar School, a member of the Burial Board, a lighting inspector, and a director of the Starr-Bowkett society. lit witssl years of age.  The coroner (Mr. E. 44. Louth) was at onee colamassicated with, and all inquest was held as the residence of the rteoeased on Tuesday morning. Mr. Tilley was foreman of the jury, which included me following :—Messes. T. F. Laker, T. N. Chard, Christopher, Coats, Elston, J. A. lame, Head, Knapp, H. J. Lye, Rubbra, and W. G. W. Watson. Dr. C. E. Alford said that he had for some time been the deceased's family doctor. lie was sent for to see Mr. Smith at about 12.0 on Sunday. He proceeded at once, and found aim in bed. He was conscious, and from ontward appearances his face and head seemed very muchested, and the pupils of his eyes were distended. iigure he went upstairs Mrs. Smith met him and said she believed her husband had taken poison. He a.skea deceased what he had done, and although his teeth were tightly clenched he shouted out " Poison." Witness repeated the question, and lie said " Poison." He then asked him what poison, and Ise said " Vermin killer." From outward appearances there was every reason to suppose that lie had taken poison in some form or other. Seeing the serious position in which deceased was witness at once sent for further help, and Dr. Webber came and brought with him his stomach pump. They were, however, unable to apply it owing to the teeth being an firmly clenched. They then tried to administer chloroform, but without result. He expired as they were doing that. He died under treatment, not from the chloroform, but from the effects of the poison. Mrs. Smith had beets to church that morning. lie asked her if she had any poison in the house, and she said she did not know there was any in the house. He had not been well for fibILIC days. On Mrs. Smith's return front church she found hint in bed asleep. Sae said something to him, and he jumped up and shouted " Poison—too late." She asked him what he meant, and be again said " Poison." lie also said that there was a letter in his coat pocket. She searched his coat and found a letter on the envelope of which was the following : " I have taken &I packet of vermin killer. W. G. Smith, at 11.20 a.m., Sunday, 2dth January, 1191, 12 cut." On the left hand corner was the word "over," and on the reverse side of the envelope, in a tremalous hand, although, the initials were perfectly firm— " Georgie forgive sue. God forgive me. Is is all through trouble. I can't stand it. W.G.S." Mrs. Smith told a itness that deceased had been very depressed of late. Ott Thursday he seemed more depressed than ever and once ran up starrs exclaiming "Oh God,, what shall I dot If this feeling does not leave use I shall go mad." Witness prescribed for hint on Thursday and a few days afterwards he said he was much better. He did not see hint again until Sunday. , Mr. OW. Catford, chemist, said that deceased came do his shop and asked to be supplied with a packet of vermin powder. He made tip a compound himself. He add it as a paition, and his register was signed by the deceased,. Q. : Did he say what it was for i—A. : He said he had been overrun with mice lately. Deceased appeared in his normal state of health, and there was nothiug unusual in hint. He had supplied him with vermin killer on several previous occasions. The coroner, in summing up, said it would, perhaps, under ordinary circumstances, have been necessary to call Mrs. Smith, but he thought iu this case it was unnecessary, It was really a very sad case. One of the best einsens of the town had been removed, and the Jury, he was sure, felt his lose moat aeutely. If was eertain that the jury would join with him in the expression of sympathy that las end had been so sad and at the cause which had brought it about. On Da Alford's testimony it was clear that deceased suffered from sleeplessness, and if a man was unable to rest his brain some portion of the 24 hours it would undoubtedly vulunge his mind, and there was no doubt the verdict the jury would return was that death resuited fruns strychnine self-administered during a lit of temporary insanity. The Jury returned a verd;ct in aceosdanee with the cerouer's suggestion. The foreman also proposed, and the jury awl corober unanimously agreed in the following resolution : " This jury respectfully express their deep sympathy with the widow and fatally in their sad bereaveinent, and wish to place on record the great esteem in whirls deceased was held by his fellow towissracu."