The Telegram. — 1895-05-21 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE AND INQUEST. PATHETIC LETTERS.  On Saturday afternoon, George Dening, cattle dealer, of Coombses, near Chard, 45 years of age, went into the washhouse whilst his wife was upstairs, and Saving mixed some bluestone and corrosive sublimate together in a cup, arank the contents. In spite of the attention shown him, he succumbed to the fatal effects of the poison two or three hours afterwards. Deceased leaves a wife and four children.—On Tuesday morning, an enquiry touching the death of deceased, was held at the Golden Fleece Inn by Lieut.Col. Barium', coroner.—The following were the jury : Messrs. 11, J. Dawe (foreman), W. Butler. T. Wheelwright, J. Bond, E. Puddy, 11. Legg, J. Dunning, F. Stlll, E. Bragg, J. Hart. (I. Board, and Boalch. Mary Ann Dening, wife of the deceased, deposed that her husband had been rather down-hearted for some time, and had appeared very weak in his mind lately. de had no money. He got up on the morning in question and went to his sister at Tatworth, to see if Elle would lend him money, but he came back at about 11 or 12 o'clock and said he had not been successful. His landlord, Mr. Cornelius, came for rent and deceased asked him to come back again, which he did about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Witness was upstairs at the time. Deceased went into the backhouse, and told his two little boys to go out and see if anyone was coming. Whilst they were gone he drank the poison, blue stone and corrosive sublimate, and then shouted to his wife, " Polly, Polly, do you come down." She came down at once, and asked him what he had done. He would not tell at first, but on witness asking him several times he said he hail taken something. Deceased took his children and kissed them, being very fond of them. He complained of being in great pain after he had been sick. He was sitting down at the time. A doctor was sent for. Deceased was taken upstairs. He took out the papers produced from his pocket, and also two letters, which were also produced and identified by his wife. He took the poison at about half-past three and died at about half-past six the same day. The doctor came shortly after his death. An emetic of salt and water was given him and made him vomit several times.—Dr.B.L.Powne, surgeon, of Chard, said that he was called on Saturday, 11th inst., between five and six o'clock in the afternoon, by a man named Lettley to go to Coombses as soon as possible. He came as soon as he could, and was told that deceased had expired about five minutes before. He was informed of what he had taken. He was also shown the paper produced and the cup, and took possession of Mein. He examined them and found that they contained perchloride of mercury and sulphate of copper, commonly called blue stone and corrosive sublimate. In the cup there was a sediment, which, on being tested, showed that the two powders above mentioned were mixed together. Both were poisonous and produced sickness and diarrhcea. Witness had never known both powders to have been taken before. The powders were used generally for foot rot, and deceased being a cattle dealer accounted for its being in his possession. In the opinion of witness the cause of death was taking such a large dose of poison. By the foreman: Only one messenger came to witness. By one of the jury: No-one could have saved deceased's life. It was elicited that there had been insanity in the family. Deceased had also suffered a great deal from rheumatism, and was in low water financially. The letters left by deceased were read, as follows : "My dear father,—Just a word before I die. I hope you will do something for my wife and children to keep them from the union. You know what a slave I was at home for you all the best of my days, instead of working for myself. You know I have had 80 much bad luck with stock going wrong. I had a pony and two cows die at Tatworth and since then some more going unsound, besides pigs I have buried at Forton and other places. After my first downfall I couldn't get another start in this blessed world of trouble. No money I could borrow . . . . excepting my brother Robert. and which I owe £2Bs bd, and £3 to my dear father-in-law. They said if I bring it back could have some more, which I cannot. You helped my dear brother Charley to pay his rent more than once, and send me and a man to do his work on the little farm. My dear father, I hope and trust you will help my dear wife out of her trouble. She has been a hard-working slave for me and never seen hardly any pleasure, always happy without at any time, no difference when it was. I hope to meet you all in heaven along with my dear wife and children. So good bye. Robert, good bye, Caroline, and all my belongings, from your son G.