Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1883-04-20 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

ILMINSTEIC SHOCKING CASE OF SUICIDE.  An inquest was held on Friday last before Mr. W. W. Munckton, coroner, and a jury of whom Mr. J. Taylor was chosen foreman, touching the death of Lieutenant James Street, who was found dead with his throat cut in his dressing-room on Wednesday evening last. Kate Rowsell, a domestic servant who had been seven years in the employ of the deceased, deposed that she last saw him alive at ten minutes past five o'clock NVednesday evening, when he weat in the kitchen to her and asked to have a nice fire as he wanted some fish dressed fur tea. He appeared very poorly, as usual, and said "My strength is gone, and I woulo like to live until lam ninety years old," Then he Lied to hurry witness out of the kitchen, telling her to dress for tea. He then went in the breakfast-room by himself, and witness saw him walk around the table and go to the knife-basket, which was on the side table. As he saw witness was looking at him he looked out of the window and then be sent her away to dress. She left him in the breakfast-room alone. As she was at the top of the stair s she saw him c ime in the frost door a few minutes after she had left him. He then went into the dining-room and sat down ou the sofa. Wan. so then went to her room and dressed. Deceased about a quarter of hour afterwards went to the bottom of the stairs, called her down, and said, "Make haste down Kate, I want my tea.' When witness came down he hail returned to the dining-room, and was sitting on the s ofa. Mrs. Street and witness went downstairs, and in the course of a quarter of an hour witness went upstairs with a to r-tray, and he was then gone. She went to the drawing-room and around the garden to look for him, and not seeing him, she shouted to Mrs. Street, who was in the kitchen. She felt frightened, thinking deceased might have had one of his fits. Mrs. Street came directly and she went around the garden to bk for him, and then went into the passage and called to him twice. Witness came into the kitchen again, and heard Mrs. Street say from the top of the stairs, "Oh, Kate, my poor husband." Witness then ran up and saw deceased lying in the bathroom on the floor, with blood flowing from him. She ran away for Dr. Hine. When she returned two doctors were with him. The knife here produced was in the basket when deceased was in the breakfast-room. Witness had cleaned it for dinner and placed it there. When she came in Dr. Bert showed it to her cover d with blood. Mr. Street seemed very excited when ho came into the kitchen. He hod been ill for Borne time, and under Dr. lime's care. He frequently had fits. She had never heard an uckiani word from deceased. He had had no fit that day, but had said in the morning his head nearly made him mad. There was no one in the house at the time besides witness and Mrs. Street. Dr. Iline then said he was a surgeon residing at ) lminster, and had been Mr. Street's medical attendant ever since he had lived in this neighbourhood, and he frequently saw him. Deceased had been a lieutenant in the 75th Regiment of Foot, and had seen a great deal of service. He had entered the army as a pr.vate, and rose to the position of lieutenant. He was 65 years of age. About six years ago deceased lived at Merriott. His health has not been strong of late years, par.ly in consequence of sunstroke which he suffered from in India and p. rtly from a severe wound he received at the siege of Delhi, which compelle I him to retire from active service. A mouth ago he was seized, while it breakfast, with partial unc niciontmese, inability to speak, aid kss of power on the kit side of the body, also left arm and leg. On four occasions since he had had slight seizures of tloo same character, which had passed off in a few minutes, but ever since the first attack he load a nervous dread if entirely losing the use of his limbs. He had al wet s mentioned this dread to witness on his visits. Witnema visited him last on the Tuesday previous to his death, and on Wednesday was sent for about six o'clock in the evening. Witness went upstairs, ant found him lying in the bath-room, on his face, in a pool cf blood. His legs were out of the room, over the top of the stairs, and the blood was trickling from him. Do. Bert and Dr. Stephens were with him. Witness lifted deceased up and WV a deep gash, extending on both sides of the throat, and the 'arse trio rd-vessels were evidently cut across on both Bides of the neck. He was evidently quite dead. There were no other marks if violence 100114 him. Deceased had his coat awl waistcoat and necktie off, and his shirt unbuttoned. Dr. Bert handed witness the knife (here produce 1), which had been ticked up by the side of deceased, and which Was covered with fresh blood. Witness considered the wound to Ire selfinflicted, and that th- deceased den from the wound in the throat, mhich woul i be caused by the knife produced. In his opinion he committed the rash act in a mem int of mental derangement caused by his diseased state. The jury returned a verdict that deceased cut his throat with the knife produced, while in a fit of temporary insanity, and requested Dr. Hine to convey the deep empathy of the coooner and jury to the widow of the deceased and also to Mr. Street, the nephew of the deceased.