Widnes Examiner. — 1912-08-03 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

FOREMAN'S SUICIDE.  DISTRESSING CASE AT WARRINGTON. A sad story was unfolded before Mr.' S.Brighouseand a jury at the Warringtou Coroner's Overt on Tuesday Mimi an inquiry was conducted into the circumstances surrounding the dea'h of Jeheph Wain Sims, u w.:rks foreman of 7, King Edward-street, whme body was found in a very decompcsed state in the river Money on Saturday. Harriet Selina Sims, the widowsaid they bad been married 18 years and up to six mouths ags had lived very happily together. During the past six in.mths sho had had reason to complain about her husband keeping late hours espscially on We'll' sday and Saturday nights. A few wet ks ago she received information that he was on familiar terms with is young woman, and in consequence a coolness sprang up ba,Aeen herself and her husband, who was a hasty and sharp-tempered man. Litterly he had not taken her into his confidence. About four o'clock on Saturday, June 22nd, he left home saying that he was going for a game of bawls. lie did not return until about 8 o'clock on the morning of Monday, June 21th. Asked where he had been he said "if 1 told you, yoa would not believe me." Later he went out to work, and she did not see him alive again. Sce had since learned that he had stayed for the week-end in Manchtster in company with the young woman, who knew he was a married man. On Saturday last Detective-Sergeant Holland showed her a watch which her husband wds wearing whea he di appeared. . Alfred liamps.on, a wiredrawer at the kilter Matt res. Co., anl residing at 6, Greoubank-s•reet, said he had known the deceased or ab..mt 18 years. A few weeks ago he rensembered Mr. S:ms rind his wife laving words becanse she suspected him of being <it familiar terms with .another woman, lie had heard Sims con plain about pains in the head, and he was a hasty tempered man. He had never heard him say be would take his I.fe. He had identified clothing and articles found en the body vs belonging to Sims. " Hector Sims (15), sou of the deceased, gave evidenle to the effect that at 2.30 pan. on the 21t1i June his father came in the house and told him to tell his -(witness's) mother that he was going to see a man at the works about tot turning in. lie added that he would not be long. He kissed the three children, and then went out in the direction of Manchtster-road. He had not sees his father since.  William Statham, gardener, 8, Rock Grove, said that about 6.45 on the 24th June he was proceeding along the river bank at the extreme end of Westy-lane, Latchford, when he noticed a gentlemen's umbrella stuck up in the river bank and a hat hanging upon it. A pair of gloves was in the umbrella. lie also noticed footprints of a man's shoes extending to the river bank. The articles were afterwa•ds idmt I'd as the property of the deceased. In answer to the coroner witness said Ct.° umbrella would be 2ft. away from the water. • Joseph Shaw, lock keeper at Manor Lock, and living in a cottage near by said that at 11.80 on the 27th July he noticed a dirk object floating in the centre of the river and on getting a boat hook he found it was the body of a man since identified as that of Sinao. It was veryu e tneicutcihv edesceormg epaonsted. Holland said the features and shuil of the body were badly disfigured, possibly by passing flats. The Coroner in addressing tho jury said the moth c r of the girl with whom the deceased had been away in Manchester discovered the relationship existing between the ,couple and on the 2ith Jnne, after her daughter had been away with the man, she interviewed Sims at the works. He arranged that some explanntion should be given later in the day. lie never kept that appointment hut went home find kissed the children good-bye and went away. The next thing eas that he was found in the river. Were the jury satisfied that he had taken away his own life ? There was such a motive for it. He had either been uufaithful to his wife or had put himself in a false position by being away with the girl and then the mother found out. The jury would understand what his state of mind would be when in that fix. The property being found on the river bank piecluded the possibility of an accident and everything seemed to point to the fact that the apt was wilful. The jury retired and on their return the foreman said they found that Sims dromned himself in a sudden fit of insanity under the circumstances which occurred. Court, but ceither of the M nlceh agsitreirci, i wthas,whaloomag it was alieged Sims went to evidence. The girl wept throughout the whole proceedings. with thwhaes r cmaloi ethdeur,p opnretsoe ngti vi ne