The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1882-11-11 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

THE TIMES, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1882  SHOCKING SUICIDE AT KERESLEY.  THE BODY BURNED AFTER DEATH.  . Great sensation was caused at Keresley and Exhall, on Saturday night, by the report that George Smith,49 years of age, a labourer, living at Exhall, had committed suicide, in a shocking manner. Smith was left alone in his houm between six and ten o'clock„ and on his son returning at the latter time he stumbled over something in the dark, and was horrified to discover it was the body of his father. Deceased had apparently placed a loaded gun on a chair, with the muzzle pointing to his heart, and pushed the trigger back with his finger; he and the gun had then fallen together. The flame of the explosion ignited .deceased's clothing, burning the body in a most shocking manner. An inquest was hekton the body at the Hare and Hounds Inn, KeresleY, on Monday, before Dr. C. W. Iliffe, Coroner.  George Smith, labourer, living at Exliall, stated that the deceased was his father. Witness went out about six o'clock on Saturday night, and when he returned at ten o'clock he found the house door locked. He fetched another key, and entered the house, and saw a fire on the floor. He stooped to see what it was and caught hold of his father's face. He called assistance. The deceased had locked himself in the house, and placed the key on a chair against the door. He had never done anything to lead witness to think that he would destroy him. self, but he had been in failing health for some time.  Elizabeth Smith, the wife of Joseph Smith, labourer, of Ezhall. stated that she found a gun on the floor near the deceased. There was no blood upon it.  'Police-constatle Duncuff stated that he via's called to the deceased's house at 8-30 on Sunday morning. _ He found the deceased lying on the floor in a pool of blood, and there was blood spattered on the door and walla. Witness paw shot marks on the door. He saw the w.,tind beneath the left blade bone, and also the place where the contents of the gun had entered the side of the body. Hr., aohn Orton, of Foleshill, was called in to see, the deceased at half-past ten o'clock on Sunday morning. He was lying upon the floor severely burnt all over; and his clothes were all burnt. He found a large gunshot woun,l passing through the right side of the chest, taking the direction of the heart, and passing out underneath the left scapula. There was a quantity of blood on the floor, the bowels were quite burnt, and the coins in his pockets were scarcely recognisable. The ribs were blown out and shattered, and part of the lung tissue protruded. Death from the gunshot wound must have been instantaneous, and the Oring of the body must have taken place after death. It was a horrible sight, and from the position of the gun—nothing in the room having been disturbed—witness was of opinion that the weapon must have been fired by the deceased, an& from the direction of the wound, and the evidence he had heard, he believed that the deceased had carried out a matured plan of self-destruction. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased committed suicide while in a temporary state of insanity.