The Telegram. — 1900-05-22 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

SENSATIONAL AFFAIR AT WIM BORNE. HEAD NEARLY SEVERED FROM THE BODY.  "A COACHMAN OF UNSOUND MIND."  Wimborne has had another sensation provided for it, but this time of a far more ghastly nature, viz., a man named Harry Collier (32), coachman in the employ of Mrs. Wiblin, of Northleign, having been found on Friday morning wilts a gash in the throat—in fact, the head was almost cut utl. A razor, '' The Falcon," had been used all too effectively. The inquest was conducted the same day at 5.30 in the cottage occupied by the bead gardener, before Mr. H. 0. Uhislett and a jury, of which Mr. C. Colborne was foreman. —At the outset the Coroner remarked that Collier WM formerly in the employ of Lady Greathed, and quite recently he had communicated to the deceased the fact that her ladyship was willing to take loin back should he be leaving lies situation, and at this prospect of going again into her ladyship's employ Collier seemed delighted. The tirst witness was Lucretia Collier, the widow, who said she last saw her husband alive between 9 and 9.30 that morning. He had not been in the best of health for sonic time past, having been depressed and worried respecting his work ; although he was 'looking forward wihi pleasure to going to a new situation. tier husband's eldest brother was in an asylum, and the deceased had remarked he thought his Own mind was giving away and that he felt it was so. He had not, to her knowledge, made ally previous attempt on his life. They (the husband and wife) were as happy together as they possibly could be. John Richards, dairyman to Mrs. Wibbin, said tliat deceased appeared to be all right at 9.45 that morning, when he spoke in his usual manner. Liter on, about 10.40, witness was in the garden talking to the gardener whet Mrs. Collier came to them and asked if they had seen her husband, as he was " ordered" at 10.30. Mr. Baker (the gardener) thereupon went through the garden and in the 'Wilderness" to look for Collier. but could not find him there. On looking into the summerhouse in the grounds, however, witness saw tile deceased, with his throat cut, lying on the fluor. Biood was flowing from his neck. Witness alarmed Lie gardener, who went for tile pollee and the doctor. —By the jury : When witness first looked into the summerhouse there was no sign of life in the deceased. Collier had a day or so before told witness that he was , in a nervous state. . . . . . . _  Dr. Male,lm Lamb said that, on being called by P.S. Saint, lie went to the preiniseg and found Collier lying on his face in a pool of blood. By his side was a razor (produced). On tenting the body over witness observed a clean cut wound across the neck, erii.sely severing the blood vessels oil the right and left side, and also dividing the windpipe, showing that it had been a most determined act. The cause of death was hemorrhage arising from the wound. Within the last two months (Jollier had complained to witness of pains iii his head and had said that he was a great deal worried, but could not say what it was about. The extreme nervous state of deceased was apparent and it had c•nue to his knowledge thi (Jollier had remarked to his wife "I shall never be happy," and he also said to her, " Give me a khot and a dose of poison." The doctor further stated (bat it would have been impossible to have saved the mans life had anyone been in attdndance immediately alter the dee I was done. A verdict was returned to the effect " That deceased committed suicide whilst of unsound mind."