The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1880-05-29 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

SHOCKING SUICIDE.  Another instance of the fatal effects of excessive drinking was painfully illustrated in our midst on Friday afternoon last. The victim in the present ease is a Mr. Joseph Mills, watch finisher, who for many years resided in Bond-street, Coventry. The unfortunate man was possessed of more than an ordinary amount of intellectual ability, and was a skilled workman, but owing to his intemperate habits, to which during a number of years he had entirely given himself up, his family—one that any man might with just cause be proud of—were compelled to separate from him; and being unable to follow his employment, he had to seek shelter in the Coventry 'Union. His family made repeated efforts to reclaim him, but all to no purpose, and he terminated a mis-spent career on Friday afternoon last by hanging himself in a hovel in a field near Radford. The facts of the sad event will be best gathered from the following report of the inquest, which as held on Saturday afternoon last, at the Graces Inn, Radford, beiore Mr. Coroner Dewes : William Joseph Mills, of Coventry, watch escapement maker, said: The deceased, whose body the jury have seen, is that of my father. He was 52 years of age and a watch finisher, and he lived in St. John-street, Coventry. I last saw Lim alive cha Sunday night last, when he was in his usual state of health. He has been separated from his wife about three years in consequence of his intemperate habits and he has been in the Union Workhouse. I have not seen much of him lately, but from what I have heard I have no doubt that his faculties have been impaired by drink. William Salt, of Coventry, said: Yesterday, about four o'clock, I was going from the Conndon-road Station to fetch a pony, and in doing so I had to pass a hovel in the fields. The door was open, and on looking inside I saw deceased hanging from a beam. I ran down the field and told two men who were there and they came back with me. Thes went to the door and looked at him and then went away, leaving him hanging, and came on with me to the Grapes, and told Mrs. Hanson. Then they went back, and I saw him cut down. Amos Wright went to Coventry, and fetched a policeman. George Parvin, of Coventry, case springer, said: I was in the field near to the hovel spoken of yesterday afternoon about half-past four. I was told that a man was hanging in the hovel. I went as fast as I could and cut him down. He was dead and stiff, and I should say he had been dead many hours. Two men were there before I heard of the occurrence, named Amos and George Wright. Someone said "Don't cut him down," but I do not know who it was. Amos Wright, of Coventry, watchmaker, said : Yesterday, between four and five, I heard that a man was hanging in the hovel. My son George was with me, and we both went to the hovel and saw a man hanging. He was dead and I did not cut him down. He was hanging by his braces and scarf. P.C. Goode said he took charge of the body, and removed it to the " Grapes." He had then been dead some time. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased destroyed himself by hanging, and that there was no evidence to show the state of mind in which he  was at the time. The Coroner intimatad that in conseqnence of the inhuman behaviour of the witness Wright he should disallow his expenses.