The Warwickshire Herald. — 1892-10-20 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SUICIDE AT HANDSWORTH.  Shortly before eight o'clock on Monday morning a man named Frederick Morrie, aged 57, who lqdged at No. 7, Wretham-road, Handsworth, was found dead in bed at his lodgings under circumstances which leave little doubt that he had taken his own life. Morris had been subject to epileptic fits, and was struck down in one of his attacks on Hookley• hill on Thursday last. Sinoo that time he had been much depressed, but he appeared to be in his usual health when he went to bed on Sunday night. When the discovery was made the bed was covered with blood. Dr. Lyne, who was called in, found four punctured wounds in his throat, and deceased's penknife, which was stained with blood, lay on the bd beside him.  The inquest on the body of deceased was held at the Roebuck Inn, Soho-road, Handsworth, on Tuesday, before Mr. E. Hooper (coroner for S 'nth Staffordshire). The first witness called was . .  William Morris, brother of the deceased, tailor, Crown Buildirgs, Dalton - street, Birmingham, who said that deceased was a tailor's cutter, living in apartments at Wretharn-road. He saw deceased last alive on Saturday evening about six o'clock, in New - street Station. Ile came to witness's office, and they proceeded together to the station. Deceased then returned to his rooms and he did not hear anything further till Monday. Deceased was married, but his wife lived apart from him in London, but he believed the couple were on friendly terms. Deceased had been lodging in Handsworth about six or nine months, and appeared very comfortable. Be had a stroke 25 years ago, and had suffered more or less from epileptic fits of late. He appeared to be in very good health on Saturday, when he said he should have been pleased to have gone with witness to Four Oaks only he had made arrangements to see his doctor on the Sunday. On hearing of the death witness wired to his wife's solicitor's, Hereford. As far as he was able to judge he should say the wounds were self-indicted, and there was no doubt he was of unsound mind. His father had suffered from softening of the brain. Deceased was temperate and did not take drugs, &c., neither was he suffering from pecuniary embarassment. Margaret Thompson, wife of John Thompson, said deceased had lodged with her since February last, and during that time his health was_good, excepting an occasional fit. He had a fit on Thursday, on his way home from work, about half-past nine at night. He retired to bed about ten p.m., and on Friday he stayed in bed all day, an unprecedented occurrence with him. Dr. Lyne was sent for, and gave instructions that he should be kept quiet. On Saturday he went out all day, and on Sunday he appeared fairly well, retiring to bed about ten p.m., instructing her to call him at 7.44 a.rn. She did so, but receiving no reply, she went in and saw deceased lying on his left side, all his clothing, and bedclothes being saturated with blood. The body was cold and lying beside it was an open knife. On Sunday he was more lively than usual, and told her that he e.c. pooled his brother and cousin to dinner and tea, on the following Sunday. Dr. Lyne was sent for before eight on the morning of the death. Police-constable Skerett stated that he visited the house in Wrethamsroad. He saw the deceased lying on the bed with his hands clasped, and four punctured wounds in his throat, covering about a square inch. He was quite dead at the time, and there was clotted blood I7ing on the bed. Ile found a knife lying by his side, in close proximity to his hand, this was covered with blood. Deceased's hand was also covered with blood. There was no writing in the room. A verdict of " Suicide whilst temporarily insane " was returned.