Nantwich, Sandbach & Crewe Star — 1890-10-04 ()

DETERMINED SUICIDE OF A YOUNG WOMAN AT CREWE.  On Monday at noon an inquest was held at "The iasrrel public-house, Nantwich Road, Crewe, touching the death of Catherine Latham, a young woman who had inflicted fatal injuries on herself there early on Friday afternoon. Mr Yates was the coroner. John Latham manager of the house, examined, said deceased was his sister, was twenty-four years of ago last April, and had been a dairymaid. Deceased was a native of Hawarden. Last July she attempted to commit suicide by cutting her throat. She recovered on that occasion, was brought before the magistrates, and bound over to keep the peace. His brother at Liverpool was the surety. Previous to that she had been in failing health for over two years. She went to stay a bit with kis brother in Liverpool,and on the 15th of the present month came to him. At times she became depressed and he took her to see Dr Atkinson, who gave her a bottle of medicine, which witness had some difficulty in getting her to take. She had told him that she didn't want to live. Witness took every precaution to keep dangerous implements out of her reach. The razor with which she cut her throat was in the back kitchen where he usually kept it. He didn't know that she was aware of it being there. It was on a shelf out of her way. At night he always used to take it into his bedroom. On Friday she seemed to be much brighter than usual, but she didn't go out that day. He left her at the breakfast table when she appeared very cheerful. Sometimes she would take a good hearty meal, but that morning she eat very little, lid heard of the occurrence about ten minutes to one. His wife called his attention to it and told him deceased had got her throat cut. Witness went in a cab for Dr Atkinson. When the doctor arrived he put one stitch in, but be then considered the case hopeless Her throat was cut right across. Ile saw her lying on the floor, but could not say whether she WV; conscious or not. Mrs West, examined said she t was the: mPth.er-in-law of the last witness. She • oa* me to Crewe on Weauesaay last. She knew all about deceased's complaint. Her daughter (kir Latham's wife) thought that witness would be able to comfort deceased better than a stronger. When deceased and witness would be sitting down together, deceased would sometimes rise up and say she felt a terrible sensation. On Thursday night witness slept with her and said "If you like we'll put the gas oat." On the previous night witness left a little gas burning in the room. Deceased consented to the light bein.:; put out, but during the night she was restless, and three times jumped up in a startled condition. When witness got out of bed in the morning deceased said "You are not getting up yet are you? Witness said it was time to rise. When witness went to call her for breakfast she.was doing her hair. In response to the call deceased said " I will be there in a minute." -When she came downstairs she set rued io good spirits. At breakfast she wanted witness to have something out of her plate which she evidently thought was enticing. After breakfast they went into the sitting-room to do , some needlework. To keep her from evil thoughts witness said "Here dear, come and • take the stitches out for me." This she did • very nicely, and shortly after its completion witness said, " I have another little job for you. Will you hold this? Witness then gave her some needlework to do and she sat down for a shoit time. Then she deliberately rose up, left the needlework on the table and walked out of the room. Here witness thought she ought to say that.deceased had wanted her to pray with her some time previously. Witness said she must try and drive her troubled feelings from her, and she advised her to pray herself. To this deceased asked .how she should pray, and witness said the simplest way you can. When she left the room witness said to her daughter, "Very likely she (deteased) is going to have a prayer." When she didn't come back soon witness's daughter went to see what she was doing. Mrs Latham came back and said, "Mother, Kate is on the floor." Witness said "You stop here, my dear, and I'll go and see what is wrong with her." Witness went to the bedroom and found deceased lying on the floor in an apparently composed condition. S:he s dd, " My dear child what have you clone" turned deceased's head over and then saw a terrible wound. It was not so bad, however, as it seemed at first when the blood was flowing from it. Witness thought at once she could do nothing for her, bat she got 'a large towel and tried to stop the bleeding. When the doctor came, he asked witness to take hold of her hands while he tried to stitch the wound, but i deceased pulled her over. The young man in the bar came and held her and the doctor put 1 oue stiteh in. Witness said to the doctor, "I  think it is fatal," and he said, "She wont be long in dying." Deceased never spoke, but she looked at witness. Witness then tried to find out what deceased had cut her throat with and the servant girl held up the razor which she had found near by. The dressing table, looking glass, and cover were sprinkled with blood. Witness didn't. know anything about the razor. She thought the family were perhaps too strict about it and that this might have caused deceased to be more watchful. On the Thursday when deceased was out of the house her bon-in-law thought he would take the opportunity to have a shave, but he conldn't find the razor. Consequently he had to shave next morning. Deceased must have seen where he had put the razor when she took the breakfast things into the kitchen, which she did that morning instead of the servant. Four years ago, before she became ill, deceased was a regular Tomboy for fun. Since then, when some lumps had appeeard on her cheek, she had changed greatly. She had seen several doctors in Manchester. One day she said to witness's daughter, "Oh, Polly, look what a sight I am." 0 .e of the j, ints of her finger w•re also effected, and there were similar lumps on other parts ef her h.) iy. Tire Coroner thought there was little don't that the girl had. committed suicide during a fit of temporary insanity. Her friends appeared to have done for her all that they could to prevent her from destroying herself. A verdict that deceased had committed suicide with a razor whilst temporarily insane was returned by the jury.