The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1883-11-24 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

THE TIMES, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, LBB3. SHOOKING SUICIDE CN THE RAILWA.N.Y.  A MUTILATED BODY CARRIED ABOUT , THE STREETS FOR FORTY MINUTES. ; An inquest was held a• the Grapes Inn, Warwick-lane, Corentry,on Monday, before Dr. C. ty. Iliffe, Coroner, as to the death of Arthur Charles Norbury, whose death had taken place under circumstances detailed in the following evidence. James Norbury, 15c. Ih., Gosford-stret, dyer, stated that the deceased was his son. He was a moulder, and was 21 years of age. During the past fortnight or three weeks lie had been working as an ordinary labourer at Mr. Madeley's corn warehouse. Lately he had been peculiar in his manner. He served his app i enticeship at Messrs. Matterson, Huxley, and Watson's, and left whoa he was out of his time. He tried to get work at his own trade, but failed, and he became very despondent and dispirited in consequence. He did not know that there was anything else on the deceased's mind—no love affair, or anything of that sort. He left home on Saturday morning, about 9 o'clo •k, and never returned. On Saturday night witn( ss sat up until a few minutes before 12 o'clock, and when he went to bed he left the door unfastened. He did not feel anxious at deceased's al)sence, as he had sometimes previously stayed out quite as late in company with other young men. Isaac Yakeman, waggoner in the employ of Mr. Binley, of Willenhall farm, stated that on , Saturday night, about half-past eleven o'clock,he, in company with three other persons, was going ; home. It was a moonlight night, and as they ; were passing over Folly-lane bridge they saw a dark o!iject lying by the side of the metals, near the crossin.z on the west side of the bridge. Witness went down and found that it was the body ;of a man. His entrails were protruding, his ; arm wis off, and he was quite dead. Witness ! removed the body out of the way of passing trains, and went and communicated with one of the company's platelayers who lives on Stoke Aldermoor.  Inspector Golby stated that deceased's right side was shattered and crushed, and his right arm was lacerated and cut off at the elbow. His head was nearly severed from the body. He had made enquiries at Mr. Madeley's, and had learned from some painters who were at work in the yard that they were struck by his silly manner, and thought that he was hardly right. He had also seen two young men who were vl ith the deceased during Saturday night. In answer to a question by the Coroner, Mr. Itivitts, stationmaster, stated that they had made every enquiry with the view of ascertaining at what time the occurrence took place. All the engines that passed over the line during the ili,ght had been examined, but no trace could be found.  Inspector Squires, who watched the ease on behalf of the railway company, said he had been told that one or two publicans refused to take in the body of the deceased. If that was correct, it would be competent for all the licensed victuallers to act in the same manner, and then what could be done. Would it not then be for Coventry to provide a public mortuary. The Coroner said that this was a question which had been before the City Council for a long time, but he was afraid that the Council was like Parliament long winded, and very much bound by red tape. He did not think they were any nearer getting a public mortuary than they were at the commencement. There was a great difficulty in the way, and he did not know how to approach the Council better than by making these remarks. Mr. Rivitts stated that they were forty minutes at least, carrying the mutated body about, before they could get anyone to take it in, and they were accompanied by a policeman. he Coroner said that the only thing he could hope for was that that this expression, endorsed as he was sure it would be by the jury—(hear, hear)—would cause the Council to provide such a place as was needed without further deay. The Jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased committed suicide while in a temporary state of insanity, and added a strong expre-sion of opinion that a public mortuary ought to be provided immediately.