Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1880-03-12 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

DISTRESSING SUICIDE.  The people et Weymouth were greatly shocked cm Saturday morn:idlest at the news that Mr. Fl . urdle, the -known provision dealer, olisig Rdmundetrest. hung himself. The deceased had for some•tinee been in • depressed state of mind, am* had in a marked degree suffered from loss of onereery and total ibcapacity for business; notwithstandkg this, however, his triends hadi not the slightste idea ho would have committed such an act, and, Uneaten, did not deem it necessary to put him =bir= restraint. The deed was effected by means of es d rope secured to the balusters and fastened rimed ble neck by a running noose. An alarm was eglickly raised and assistance at hand to out him dews, but life was quite extinct.  11111 INQUEST Was held on Saturday evening at the Guildhall, before Mr. R. M Howard (Mr. G. Symonds being unable to attune. The following gentlemen were sworn on the Jury. Messrs. H. A. Randall (foreman). L. Bartlett, Q. Borden, J. W. Board, J. Ossa J. Imes, S. Jackman, W. Si New. ton, J. Staines, H. &nett. T. H•wkes. and O. Smyth. Mr. O. F. Arden represented the friends Of the dammed The following evidence was adduced : Isabella Baton said she was a servant In the of Miss Hurdle, St. Echnundetrest, and the in the same house. That morning about, eleven (Meek she was in the bedroom making the beds, and on open the door of the drawing-room, she saw the en the landing facing her. Seeing hien she tamed back and went into the bedroom. She did Deb me him again until she saw him beinitare down by the Mormon. She bad seen him ono*st that morning, sad had spoken to him. She did sot notice any strangeness about him—in face, she t he looked as well as ever he did. The day beforete not get up until late in the afternoon. She went into the drawing-room about sevea in the evening and found him sitting in the dark, and without a doe. She him if she should light the flee, and he said no. lihift not see him again that evening. He had not been very well for some time. In answer to the Foreman, the Wit.... said when eke saw the deceased standing on the landing be made no remark whatever.. Thomas Hurdle, the nephew of the doomed,, odd he assisted In the business. This morning he was at the store on the opposite side of the road. A little albs II the daughter of the deceased game across and said Isse father had hurt himself or was going to do so. He at once ran across the road into the house and saw his uncle (the deceased) hanging by rope attached to the beheeter. He immediately celled oat to their man George to get a knife toted the rope, and witness ran up the stairs to hold him up by his arms used the rote was rut The man immediately brought the knife and cat the rope. There were no signs of Ws whatever. Dr. Tisard was in attendance about three admits@ from the time. The deceased had been unwell be ever twelve months and at dimes • little strange in histaminic Of late he had been particularly strange, but not to seek an extent as to lead them to think he would commit seek an act as this. He had show* his strangeness by being very silent in matters of basisses, very &premed. and seemed not to take the interest that he used to do. He was about 64 years of age. In reply to Mr. Arden witness said deceased seemed very vacant and suffered from • lose of memory. George Cross, in the employ of Messrs. Hurdle, said this morning about eleven o'clock he was in the stores and saw Miss Hurdle cell the last witness. He followed them into the house, and saw the deceased hanging. Thomas Hurdle called for • knife to out the rope, and he at ones got it and cut him down. They laid the deceased on the stairs but he seemed to be quite dead. The rope was fastened with • running noose round the neck without • knot. He enly heard a slight noise in the throat when he loosened the rope but no sign of breathing. 01 late the deceased had appeared very strange in kis manner. Witness had been in his employ for 16 yenta. Of late he seemed very vacant and with no memory. He used to be a very active man of business, but he had not reoent4 been able to attend to his business. Dr. lard, medical practitioner. 'adding at Weymouth, said this morning about twenty minutes past eleven, when visiting a patient in St. Mary's-streets he was summoned to sea the deceased. He at 011C13 went to him and found him lying on the stairs apparently quite dead. He used means to try and restore him, but lit was without-effect Thee% was a deep purple mark extending amend the beck of the neck from the left ear to the right, and there wee a large discoloured patch under the right ear, caused the pressure of the rope by which he had been sui The cause of death was suffocation, produced by stranguler tion. At the Coroner's suggestion, the jury at einCe 1.6011111 ff a. verdict of "Temporary Insanity."  OM