Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1881-01-15 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

CEITATEN.  'THE SUICIDE OF AN ASUTON MAN.  THE INQUEST.  I On 14onday afternoon Mr. F. Pt:ioe held an inquest at the Grp os tau, Warrington-street, on the Ism)y of William Smith, who committed suicide.  The &et witness was Alice Smith, who said: Iwo at 16, Jertuyn-atrect, and am the wife ei the deceased, who lived at 13, Delaware-street North, and was a muffin aud crumpet baker. In consequence of his intemperate habits I have lived apart from him 'nee last May. He has been of iatemperate habits for close on 22 years. On Saturday mooting, in consequence of what I was told, I went ton house is D.lainere street, and saw the body of the deceased in the cones* of the day. When in drink he has threatened US commit suicide, but never when he was sober. I am satiefied that he committed suicide. Ralph Taylor, boot and shoe maker,ls, Dela. mere-street north, said: I have known the de— ceased for over 20 years, and I have lived near him for about two years. He has been addicted to intemperate habits at times, but never more than tline or four times a week, when he went Co his moods. On Fiiday °vetting I went to the Royal Oak public-house, and had a glass Of beer. I there saw the deceased. lie was very far from being tipsy, but was very excited. He was not so excited as usual ou these occasions. I stw him again on his own doorstop a few minutes afterwards. He then told me he had had a very ba I journey, and did not know what he must do. I told him to eh., cup, as things would doubtlers in prove. He went into the house, and I beard tom talking very vehemently to Ititeself, and he continued to do so till just before throe. He was knocking about up till that time, preparing, as I thought, for his Saturday marning's work, but he then suddenly ceased, and I heard no more of him. When I w ut out in the morning at nine o'clock I noticed that the blinds of hie house were down, awl whou I came back I foetid they were still down, and in.st the neighbours were shinned. In consequent* of suspicione which I enterteined,l went to the police office for an officer, and when I returned I toned that an entrance had been affected, and the deceased cut down. Life wea quite extinct, but the body was not cold, and he had probably been dead three or four hours. —By the Coroner: When I saw him on Friday eight lie said he "would do the trick." When I have heard him use such expressions I hams always tried to drive the idea from his mind. I think his wife was fully justified in leaving him, and if she had given him a jolly good thrashing when he Wt. in drink I think it would have done him good, and else could have led him like a baby in leading•stringe. She had the phyeical power, but not the moral courage. William Ledge, greengrocer, 36, Goefordstreet, deposed: On Saturday morning, about half-past too o'clock, I became aware of seine apprehension being entertained that something was wrong in deceased's house. Two men got a ladder, and got through the back room window, and so opened the frou door. I then went in and saw the deceased hanging by means of • rope fastened to a hook to the ceiling. His feet did not touch the floor. There was a sofa near, by which he could have raised himself from the ground. He was quite cold, but the limbs were getting rigid. I have no doubt bnt that he committed suicide. He was very excitable in drink. I did not see him on Friday night. This concluded the evidence, and some diemission followed as to the state of the man's mind at the time be committed suicide. Some of the jury were in favour of a verdict to the effect that deceased was temporarily insane at the time be committed the act. Other jurors were desirous of adding a rider to the effect that the insanity was indaced by excessive drinking, while at least one thought the proper thing would be to return an open verdict. A Jaror agreed that the most charitable construction they could put on the deceased's conduct was to say that he was suffering from the effects of drink at that time  Another Juror: It is a charitable construction you put on many things which are not right. The Coroner : I don't believe he would have committed the act if it had not been for the drink.  The Juror: Drink has to bear responsibility for many acts with which it has nothing to do. In this ease the witness says the wife's leaving him, and the bad trade had something to do with it.  The Coroner: That may be, but he had money to get drunk, and he has been intemperate for years.  The question wag then put to the vote, and nine were in favour of a verdict of temporary insanity, three wishtd to add that the insanity was the result of drinking, and favoured au open verdict. The Coroner: If we sit here till twelve o'clock we must come to a verdict.  Several Jurors : Oh:f-a-u; ready to give way. A verdict to the effect that deceased committed suicide while temporarily insane was returned.