The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1884-08-16 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

DET.ERRINED SUICIDE AT SEA.COMBE.  ON Saturday morning one of the most ghastly and determined cases of suicide ever known in the Wallasey district toot place at Seacombe. The victim being a foreman at the Phospho-Guano Works, named Henry Morris, 32 years of age, and residing with his brother David Morris, at 27, Palermo-street. It apappears that about a month ago he showed signs of mental derangement, in consequence of which he was removed to the Traamere Workhouse, when he was detained as an inmate for three weeks, and was discharged, and returned to Seacombe to resume Ins usual avocations. He retired to rest about ten o'clock on Friday evening, apparently in his usual spirits. About six o clock the following inorning the brother was aroused by hearing groans in the back bedroom occupied by the deceased, and on entering the room was horrified to find his brother standing before the looking glass, wringing his hands and _groaning in the greatest agony. Blood was flowing in large quantities from a fearful gash in the throat, a sleep wound to the left of the heart, also from a severe scalp wound, and a dreadful cut extending from the bridge of the nose, which WAR completely split along the right cheek. The carpets, bedclothing, and furniture were literally covered with blood, which had percolated through the chamber floor and stained the ceiling of the back kitchen. Horrified at being brought face to face with such a ghastly scene, the brother left the house to obtain some assistance and after despatching a messenger for P.C. Woodrow, who resides close at hand, returned to the bedroom in company with a neighbour named Blackburn. where they found the deceased lying On the carpet in a pool of blood. At this juncture P.C. Woodrow arrived, and after feeling the unfortunate man'spnlse, which was almost irisperceptible, a medical man was sent for, but before his arrival the deceased gave utterance to a slight groan and expired. On arrival of Dr. Bake he pronounced life to be extinct. All the arteries in the neck had been severed and by the wound beside the heart, which was about six inches deep, the liver was exposed. On the breast were found about a dozen punctures evidently inflicted by the frenzied man in an attempt to complete his work of self-destruction. An old pocketknife with a blade about three inches in length, with which the injuries had evidently been inflicted, was found upon the floor covered with blood. The coroner has been communicated with, and inquest will be held. The inquest was held at the Great Float Hotel, on Monday afternoon, before Mr. B. Churton, district coroner and a jury. From the evidence given it appeared that some few weeks ago it was found necessary to remove the deceased to the insane ward of the Birkenhead workhouse while suffering From delirium tremens, in consequence of which he lost this employment. He was quite sober on retiring to rest on Friday evening. The coroner remarked that it was the worst case of self-inflicted wounds which had ever come under his notice. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased committed suicide • while suffering from temporary mental decangement.