The Telegram. — 1893-06-20 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE OF CAPTAIN HURDLE, OF "THE EMPRESS." At the Military Arms, The Nuthe, on Monday, Mr. Arthur Symonds held an inquest on the body of George James Hurdle, who had been captain of the s.s. Empress for eeveral years, and who committed ~uicide by cutting his throat on the previous day.—Mr. Mine was foreman of the jury. . . .  Elizabeth Geddes said she went to Mr. Hurdle's house on Friday, as his wife was expecting to be coutined, and she slept with her. Ou Saturday, deceased seemed to be cheerful until after tea, when lie became melancholy, marching up and down the passage into the aitchen until supper time, Ills lasting for nearly four hours. He went to bed shout 9.30, and witness did not hear anything more of hint until early ou Sunday morning, when he went downstaira. A fee minutes alter. wards witness heard a noise as it a tap wa s running. Mrs. Hurtle asked her to go into the bed' romi, when she saw deceased on his back ou the bed with his throat cut, and just as she called out lie rolled off the ocd on the flour. Witness screamed Alai ran downstairs. P.C. Martin then came into the house and went upstairs, after which Dr. Drury and Or. Browning arrived. Deceased's r..zor wan kept in the kitchen. P.C. Martin having given evidence as to going to Mr. Hurdle's house on Sunday morning and to finding deceased with his throat cut, Dr. Browning said he had attended deceased several times since April 10th last for various complaints. On Wednesday wituesa saw him, when he complained of being " dazed " in his head. On Sunday morning, just before five o'clock, witness was called to go to deceased's house, mid found him dead, lie having cot his throat. Ever) thing was cut through to the bone, and death must have been almost instantaneous. The wound was self inflicted, and the truer) produced was such an instrument as would have caused it. The deceased was a sober man ; in fact, he believed he was a teetotaler. Mr. S I Fowler, manager of Cosens &Co., Limited, said deceased had been a remain of a boat in their service for eight years. He was a native of Poole. On April 6th witness noticed a manifest depression in deceased and spoke to hint respecting it, when he said he could not sleep by night. When his steamer, the Empress, was commissioned at the end of April, he took command, taking witness and the directors to Bournemouth. On his return, witness found him on the pier very deiected and he said, "I am very ill." Acting on witnen's advice, deceased went home, and subsequently Dr. Browning told him that he had typhoid fever. After a little while deceased got better, and on June Ist arrangements were made for hint to take command of the steamer on Saturday welt, but during the morning deceased came to wit,. tress and said that the pains itt his head were coining on again and that he must go home. Dr. Simpaim then attended him. On Friday, the 9th, witness had a private conversation with deceased, aml told him that as soon as he was letter his place 'Mould be ready for him. Deceased replied, "Oh, that's all right." He seemed very unsettled. Directly he left witness wrote to Dr. Simpson, saying, " Captain Hurdle gives me very great anxiety. I think the sooner attention is directed to his head the better." Dr. Simpson came for an explanation on Friday night, and it was agreed that deceased should go to him on Saturday morning and be examined. Just u witness was leaving home on Saturday night to go into the country a message came stating Or, Simpson's lomem tenttis had been wait. hg in all day, and up till four o'clock deceased had not been. Mr. Simpson had then gone away for a holiday. Witness refitted that as the medical man would be as near the residence of deceased he had better call and see him, and if he had anything to report he was to leave a message at witness's house. Ile did nut think there were any symptoms to justify anyone saying deceased was insane. He was an exceedingly reticent man, and witness could get tnore out of him than anyone else. Deceased was about 37 years of ago. The jry returned a verdict of " Teumoiary insanity,' and gave their fees to the widow of the deceased. The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon at, Holy Trinity Ceinetery, near Westhain. The n.rt,rre ! was followed by carriages containing the two brothers 1 of deceased and a friend ; Mr. b. J. Fowler (manacer) and Mr. Robert Fowler (secretary of the company) Messrs. Hinde and Drake and Captains Hain and Parsons. The bearers were chosen from einem: the employes of the company. The service at the cemetery was conducted by the Rev. C. Chieheater, curate . of Holy Trinity. Mr. E. B. Mace, of St. Alban's Street, had charge of the funeral arrangements.  GATTI' v.