The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1876-09-26 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

LANCHOLY SUICIDE.  An Inquest was held on Saturday afternoon last, at the Breakwater Hotel, before Mr. It. N. Howard, coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr. Thomas Gibbs was foreman, with Messrs. William Jolliffe, Abraham Ackerman, William Young, Thomas Sleeman, James Thresher, William Lowman, John Stone, Thomas) Dunkley, George Betsworth, Charles Honeyman, William Andrews, Moses Moore, Thomas Gibbs, George Ifounsell, and Robert Horswell, on the body of William Simpson, who committtd suicide by banging himself on Thursday last. George Young, gunner's mate, on board H.M.S. Warrior, said: Deceased was one of the carpenter's crew, on Thursday evening, about 6 p.m., •I came ashore with • boat's crew for him, to take him on board, because he was left behind, when the others of the coaling party went off. I went to the boat shed, where he had been at work during the day, to look for him. I opened the door and SSW him hanging from a beam by a rope round his neck. I ran straight to him, got on the top of a timber, took out my knife and cut him down. I felt his pulse and there wail no EuZon, though he was warm. I sent one of the ir crew to the sick quarters for help, and the sick berth steward was first on the spot. In about half-anhour the doctor came. The sick berth steward tried him felt his heart, and jronounced life extinct, so that nothing was done. The doctor of the Boacawen I believe, and the assistant-surgeon of the Warrior, came together, said the man was dead, and they could do nothing for him. I never had any conversation with the man that I remember. Ido not kaow if be had had any disturbance with any one, nor can I give any reason for his having committed the act. By the Foreman: In the morning he worked with the others, and in the afternoon by himself, as I was told. John James, corporal of R.M.L.1., on board the Warrior, was on shore with prisoner over night, and on Wednesday was at Weymouth with him, they were together all the evening and returned in the train together. We only had usual conversation, and deceased seemed In good ispirite ; he drank but very little, and the drink that he had did not hurt him. Next morning he came ashore in the IMMO boat with the working party, of whom witness had four men on shore; but deceased worked by himself in the boat tilted; he was the only man sent ashore that day. Witnos saw him about 11 in the forenoon, when he was looking for the boat which was going off. Saw him again at four o'clock, when he came out of the boat shed, looked down over and asked whether witness was going on board, as the men in the boat were calling out for the party. Witness told him he wi.s:eiatdgoing on shore till a quarter past four, when di said Ihe would go on at once to the boat, began packing up his tools, and said he was going on down. Witness went down to the lighter to his own men, got his own things ready and returned to him, and went on down. His proper boat to have gene by was at half .past three. Witness did not miss him then as he had only to look after his own men, and nothing to du with seamen. He had no quarrel with any one that with em ipiew of. By the Coroiser : It dark man named Tally' the evening before, was •ritla ts,esti, they were all good friends together, and Tally did not some ashore on Thursday. Had not heard that deceased had any bad news from home. Deceased was • strong powerful man. Witness in answer to the Coroner: said he might have stayed in the boat shed about a minute. Charles Clarke, Master at arms: I am the only officer en shore to look after this inquest, to my knowledge. nem not aware of anything going on on board to keep the other officers there. Deceased was one of the carpenter's crew, and had been in the service about there years. Lie was between 22 and 23. I know nothing more of him than ordinary. I have made enquiries but am not able to find that he has had any dispute with his shipmates ; I believe he has not. His general manner was quite reserved. His mother and father are living at Portsmouth, and the man was generally quiet and well-conducted. He had no good conduct stripes, he was in the second class for conduct. I have never seen him the worse for drink since he has been on board the Warrior. _  etalleurgeo-- n R.N., now stationed at the Boscawen. On Thunday hat, witness was sent for to see the decamped. Being on board the Boscawen, he ha 4 the manage about five, and immediately came on abort, found the man had been cut down, and witness loomed OW Wilk, which was still round his neck, and tight. I should think 11‘.. 411 been dead nearly an hour. There was nat. drop et the place whpre_ he warn hanged. Cannot say if his neck was dislocated or nap he (Bed from strangulation. There was nothing to show there had been a struggle, his hands were per. fectly free, and there was no appearance of coercion. think the man committed swahle, do far eel could ;Op from all the circumstanusw. By the lon, don't think anything could have been done for the malt, when he was found. Of course It would have been better to hate !gowned the ropeRichard Roklt Merchant : Dec:eased waa a very quiet man, and I never aw him have any row wit* his memun h tes He w not =during any *lekt- know nothing; that would account tPunorthis acts our grog together front the same bean. He left me the last drop, andaaid it was the drunkard's drop. He did not break Walsers tile evening before when be went to Weymouth.  308• Ph Bargery, hospital steward •. I went to the deceased on Thus:day, about five, when he was cut down. A rope was round biz neck, and the eye oil the rope compressed the windpipe. Finding the body wee perfectly dead, I did not interfere with it at all, but sent for the police. [The rope wee • large one, of about three-quarter inch diameter, called the " laxy painter."] The Coroner riAeediat that there was no evidence of any mental ent,. and there was no chance of any other verdict being given than fdo-de se. The jury debated • considerable time as to whether they would return a verdict of fe/o deer, or "temporary insanity." Although there were 15 on the jury, yet it was impossible to get a verdict, for five stood out for a verdict of temporary insanity, the others being for fe/o de se. The Court was cleared, and the jury left to debate the point.