Runcorn and Widnes Examiner. — 1875-08-14 (Runcorn, Cheshire, England)

PAINFUL SUICIDE OF A GENTLEMAN AT ALTRINCHAM. An inquest was held on the body of Mr. Peter Hartley, of Birch Hause, Dunham Road. Altrincham, on Tuseday, before Mr. Dunstan, coroner (at the house of the deceased), touching his death, which took place under most distressing circumstances on Sunday morning last. The deceased gentleman, who was 68 year:4 of age, slept in the same room as his son. At about seven o'clock one of the servants discovered the old gentleman in the closet partially hanging by a rope which is used for the purpose ,of opening the window. The deceased seems to have placedlhe rope round his neck, tied a single knot, and then thrown himself back and strangled himstlf. It is somewhat marvellous that the knot did not slip, as it was half way up the back of his head. Much sympathy is expressed for the family of the deceased in their unexpected bereavement. Mr. Hartley was a retired corn merchant, and for many years he has resided at Altrinchatu, where he enjoyed the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances. What caused the sad event no one seems to know, as the deceased had been most successful in business and had prospered, and amassed a fortune, we understand, of nearly a quarter of a million. The announcement of the death created a great sensation in the towp, and was referred to in several of the churches in the neighbourhood. The following evidence detailed before the coroner and the jury, Messrs. Byrom (foreman), Parkes, Kelsall, Fletcher, R. Fletcher, Riley, Roberts, A. Ingham' Whitlow, G. Smith, Reeves, and Wild, may interest our readers. Elizabeth Stead, kitchen maid at the deceased's, stated that she last saw deceased alive on Saturday evening. On Sunday morning, at half-past six, she was passing to the nursery, when she saw the deceased standing against the window of the water closet, in his night dress, and she thought he was looking through the window, as he was leaning with his arms on the window sill. She aroused the other servants, and they found their master dead. The rope of the window was under his chin, and the knot behind his ear. The rope was not tight, and the deceased's feet were on the floor. Richard James Hartley, son of the deceased, stated that his father was 68 years of age. He was a retired corn merchant, and had been out of business some years. He slept in a bed in the same room as his father. On Saturday night they went to bed at about a quarter past eleven, and he did not hear his father during the night. At about half-past six on Sunday morning he was awoke by the servants. On getting out of beet, he found his father in the water closet, standing upon his feet with his arms on the window sill. Tnere was a cord slackly tied under his chin, and there was no pressure. His head was back, as though he was asleep. He helped to undo the cord, and the body was removed to a bedroom. Mr. Ransome, the surgeon, was sent for. Life was extinct, but the body was warm. For the last few weeks his father had been very low, silent, devonding, and reserved. He knew of no bodily illness or trouble by money matters. He had attenaed many funerals lately, and heard of his (witness's) uncle's death on the Friday, and was to have attended the funeral on Monday. The deceased, who had no supper on Saturday night, was reserved, and not a man to complain of ailment. Isabella Harrop, nurse in the deceased's house, said that her master was very close and in low spirits, ad they wanted him to go away for a change. The deceased took medicine on Saturday night. Dr. Arthur Reinsome said that he had known the deceased for twenty years, and had attended him for three years professionally. He was subject to attacks of gout, and was then exceedingly desponding, and displayed a morbid anxiety about the state of his bowels. He had not seen the deceased for the last few months. Death arose from hanging, and he thought the knot being single became slackened. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide by strangulation during temporary insanity."