The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1870-05-10 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

PORTLAND LOCAL BOARD.  SUICIDE AT THE NAVAL SICK QUARTERS. Ongat:lnl eiek IY. 'Pr'"norilOngidedki.bliei. rtc*hosotlTidt,tOlat the Nity anionic. by banging himself is • waterclosiet over hi. r,oin. Deceased wee 49 years of age, and had three times been under the doctor's ems. For four days previously he had been surriij h ..0111 II slight attack of bronchitis, and had been very low and desponding in mind. On Friday morning he seemed not no much bet by nigtt be wee again in a very depreseedt. of et wssoindel, low eta When he wished hi. little daughter good eight, he mid he thought he should have • nits night. The sick room atterlant offered him some refreshment ; hot be said he did not wens soy more, end tij,,,,ked eery streight ' at the man, who mold not nmhe him out, and inked if be might sit op with hits. To this deceased replied "No," very aberply, and the attendant went sway. Hemmed's daughter Elmalmth, who him been in the habit of icing either late at taught, or early in the morning to 1104 her father.went up about three as usual, to find out if le wanted mouthing. She found he was not in bed, and called for the attendant. They locked into • waterelmet over deceased's room, mid there was the 3fortunate Aeeemed, with • rope twice round us neck, and hanging from a piece of wood over the cistern. One foot just touched the seat of the elcieet with his toe; bat the other was bonging free. The attendant immediately cot him down ; but be was quite A.M. He trust h•ye (Maher' the rttPn oP from the kitchen. where it was ke.it. The attend•nt found he was nearly °old, and nothing could be done for him. Rung frightened. the man threw the rope on the stove. where it was burnt. It appear' that deceased's accounts were all clear; he oasis no debt or dillioulty, and tbere was nothing to amount for hi. sat but the despondency whiab is often occasioned by hr mehitie. The inquest was held on Siturdav last, before the Coroner. R. N. Howard, Req., at the Naval Oak quarter, for the Portland sick district, and afterwards adjourned to the Royal iireakwater Hotel. The following evidence War taken : John tdockridge, assistant-surgeon, R.N., and in crli•rge of the Ntyal frith quarters, said tbatilitheatied had held the office of sick berth steward, at Hume qaerters for twenty months Witness saw him at 10 o'clock yesterday morning, when he was suffering from • slight attack of bronchiti., consequent on • previous di-ease of the lungs For four days previously he bad been no er hin care an medisal °Seer, and had been so thrice before, t such times be had I:een very kw and de/Gooding. He ,114 not appear on yesterday morning no much depressed as nsusl. At eight o'clock this morning it was reported that he was dead. Witness vsited the Fick querters, and on mamining him found him quite cold. He Dust have b-en dead some hours. He la .d • livid mark round his neck. immediately under the chin, such a mark as won d be seemed by a rope. Wane...beet...A no other marks about him sod from the eternisation should haven° herniation in saying the the mow of des, h was strangulation. The disease he was suffering from in many Pers.:kg dome tend to despondency. Wieners could give no reason for the aid unless deceased did it in a desponding 010CDO0t, and from an aoos•saion of man. His acemiate connected with the service were clear. James Young, .ink berth attendant, mid deceased was over him, and be lent saw him on Friday night, • littler if ten eleven in his room. He was poorly, and appeared in • very diwpondine state of mind. Witness took him some nutriment, but he mid he did not want any more. Wane.' irked him linw he was getting on, and he looked "very straight" at him, and witems multi not make him out. Asked if he might sit up with him the night, and he answered "No" very sharply. and witness left. Seversl time. lately, dtheased bed appeared in a very desponding state. Deceased was 49 years of age. Just afier three this morning. witness who was in bed, wee called up, and use of the patients told him he was wanted. Put on hie trousers, rushed oet, and saw the daughter of deceased, Elisabeth McLean, a child 14 years of age, who said she had called her father three time., and he had made no answer. Witems went to the watereloset over deceased's room, and found bits suspended by • rope round his neck, attached to a piece of wood that goes above the top of thecistern. Deceased had the toe of one foot just en the Peat of the waterclornit, and the other foot hanging down over the mat. Witness to .k out his knife and cut him down. The rope was twice round hi. neck with aunt of slip knot. Dammed was wont dead, and nearly cold. Witness laid him on the floor, then lifted him on the bed, and left him, seeing that it was quite wakes ti endeavour to restore animation. There were no marksm if he bad been dragged there. or of a struggle having taken plaoa. Witness was frightened and threw the rope on the top of the stove. and it was burnt. Demisted did not generally sleep alone, but he had done m for the last night or two. He must ham gone into the kitchen and ktehed the rope, or taken it up the night before Never heard of his being in debt or difficulty. Sinop be hat been poorly, the daughter had made • rule to go up about three, and see if he wanted anythicg. Elizabeth McLean, daughter of dec-need, said she had gone up as usual about them to her father, and finding ewes not in his bed looked into the watoroloeet where she saw him suspended by the neck, on which ran for insistence. She wished her father good night on Friday, and he said he thought he should have a nice night. His &epsomite had beton very strange for the last few days. Verdict, temporary insanity.  A meeting was held on Thursday last, 28th ult., present, Mr. H. lieriven, chairman ; Mews. A. &wives, 3. O. Lane, It. B. Setif's, 8 Petrol, B. Stone, a. Swots, T. Gabbs, B. mes, B. Collins, J. 111044er, ka,