The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1879-05-17 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

BARROW. A melancholy case of suicide occurred in Barrow on Sunday afternoon. Thomas Mackelt, the pro. prieter of the Bay Horse, I)4ton-road, who is an old resident at Barrow, took hts own life by shoot_ . . .  jug himself through the neck and head with a single harrvl f2wling_piece.. From the way in which the  de-eeas,d was"forund immediately.afi'er the report of  the shot was heard, it appears that he committed the ra.h act by placing the gun behind his right ea' with his let hand, and using the ramrod with his right hand on the trigger. No motive is apparent from the evidence that was given at the inquest. except that he was in a low state of mind for sumo days p evi us. The inquest was held at the Buil Hotel, on Mon. day. betore J. Poole, Eq., inverston coroner tor the district. The jury having been shown in (Mr. T. A. Nlorphet,.foreman). rho body was viewed as it w s laid out at the deceased's house. When on returLintt to thi utll llop 1, Mrs. Miteltalt, wife of the deceased. 'ho was very much distressed, whilst  giving evidence, in snswer to the coroner deFoee That the deco ised, her husband. waS 57 years of age. On Sunday afternoon ab. int it qiiiirter nest 3 &clack she heard the report of a gull proee: ding from the back kitchen. he was alone in the house at the time. . she went to the back kitchen to see what was the matter and there found her husband tying on his back with the gun at his left sAe. she could mit examine to see anything further she was so ovt ecome by the shoes, but culled in Mrs. Tyson who sent for the police. She did not know what the gun was charged with as he never used therm —lie had an abscess on the back of his neck, the traces which are still visibile, about seven years ago and since that date when he took drink it seemed to affect his head so much that he appeared often as if he did not know what .he was doing. During the last month ho rambled a gr at deal about the streets and did not care for his meals which he partook of very irregularly. She had no idea that he was in such a low • state of mind or centemplated anything serious. It was only last Saturday that he had got a pair of new boots. He complained befere his death of a swelling in his bowels, but when she suggested to send for .the d•ctor he objected, remarking that he would be all right Lye and bye. Had seen deceased shortly , before hearing the report Of the gun, which she heard about a quarter past three o'clock in the afternoon. Dinah Tyson Back Oldham-street. deposed that Mrs. Muckiat came for her about 3-15.p.m. She went into the bade kitchen of the Bay Horse, and saw deceased lying on his back with a gun be his side. She had heard the relent of the gun previously, and ran to leave her child in the house before going to see what was the matter. On seeing deceased she ran for a po!ieeman, and a passer by offered his services, and Sergi. Ryder was present immediately afterwards. Had known the deceased well. Deceased, the last time they had met, asked about her husband, although he had known previously that her husband was dead over twelve months, having died in Lmeaster asylum. They were formerly well acquainted. She had seen deceased rambling about the town a geod deal recently, but he very st Wein spike to her, or her to him. Was of opinion that there was something wrong in his manner when he hell-tired about her husband, although he appeared quite sober.— Sergi ant Ryder deposed that he was called upon at 3.20 p.m. on Sunday to go to deceased's house, an 1 there found -him in a back kitnhen, where ha was lying on- his back, the gun at his side, with the Muzzle across his breast. He at once sent for a doctor, and was present while the doctor examined him. There was a hole behind the right ear. and another on the left side of the head, the Charge having gone right through. Believed the gun w•is • charged with shot, as there were marks of abet on the wall near the roof of the apartment. The ram-rod was lying by his right side. His left heed was discoloured by the burnt powder, as if he ha I held it near the muzzle of the gun. He searched his pockets, and only found a little wad, which he produced—ln reply to the Coroner, Mrs. Muckalt stated that she did not know of any powder being in the house. He never followed shnoVng, and must have got it front some person. There were two other guns. Sergt. Ryder (continuing) :—Was of opinion that deceased was in a low state of mind Never saw him stagger or very much the worse for drink, but believed he could take a good deal without it having that effect upon hen.—This terminated the esidence.—The Coroner, in summing up, said there were only two matters for thr jury to consider, which were very clear, from the . evidence they had heard. The first was, had deceased caused his death by his own hands, and if so, did he commit the deed when in an unsound state of mind.—The jury, without retiring, gave a verdict that deceased had committed suicide by shooting himself whilst in an unsound state of mind.