The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1888-04-21 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

DETERMINED SUICIDE AT THE DOCKS.  ATTEMPTED RESCUE. EXCITING SCENES.  Late on Saturday night a young man cornmuted suicide in the East Float in a most determined manner. A gentleman coming home from Discard about half-past eleven observed a man take off his coat and hat, place them on the quay, -And then drop quietly from off one of the bridges into the water. He ran to the dockgate•man (Thomas Tacker for assistance, and the latter at once came to the rescue with a lifebuoy, which he threw to the drowning man, who, however, refused the proffered aid. At this juncture P.C. 106 (filaaraahon) and three young men arrived on the scene, and seeing how matters stood ran to the Egerton Dock for the purpose of getting a small boat and trying to rescue the would-be suicide. Unfortunately, the boat was swamped through too much haste, and the four men who had got into it were thrown into the water. With great difficulty all succeeded in regaining the quay, but before another boat could be got in readiness the mau had disappeared. The body was at once grappled for, and was recovered about twenty minutes after the occurrence and taken to the deadhonee in Watson-street to await an inquest. Deceased, whose name was John Warwick, was a painter by trade, and, aged 17 years, resided with his stepfather at 21, Oakfield•view. The inquest was held at the Victoria Arms, Cleveland-street, on Monday evening, before Mr. H. Murton, district coroner. Tne first witness called was _  Sarah Lynch, daughter of John Lynch, gardener, Woodland-avenue, who deposed that eke was with the deceased on Saturday night. She first met him, about 7.15, at Charing-cross. He was not sober, lie went with her to the theatre, and they remained there until ten, after which he took her home and left het there. He said "Good night" to her, and asked her to meet him on Suudsy night, but she refused. They had no other words. When he left her he seemed very low-spirited. He was more worse for drink than when they wrini- into the theatre. She had not hoard him tJ.:-.aten to do anything to himself, and had not suspected that he would. Deceased's mother came to wit. ness's house at two o'clock on Sunday morning and told her of his death. Witness had known deceased for twelve months, during which time she had been engaged to him. Thomas Edward Butterworth, head master, Wesleyan School, Price-street, residing at 21, Hazel-road, Tranmere, stated that on Saturday night, about 11.15, he was, along with his wife, returning from Liseard. When they arrived at the Duke-street Bridge he noticed a man walking quickly, apparently from Seacombs, and taking off his coat and hat as he walked. When he got to the centre of the bridge he put his cost and hat down, climbed over the chains, and dropped quietly, feet first, into the water. Witness at once ran and gave information to the dock gateman at the end of the bridge. The latter brought a lifebuoy and threw it to the man, but he seemed to push it away from him. The place at which deceased jumped into the water was very badly lighted. He floated a few minutes and then sank. A number of people round about tried to get him out with grappling irons, and witness was present when the boiy was recovered about twenty minutes afterwards. Deceased appeared to have trouble upon his mind. There was no sign of drink upon him; he walked quite sharply and firmly. Edward Lewis, stepfather to the deceased, stated that his son was a little adeicted to drink, especially on Satarday nights. A verdict of "Suicide while temporarily insane' was returned.  DROWNED ix