Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1895-06-21 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

SUICIDE IN NELSON LOCK-UP.  DEATH RATHER THAN PRISON. INQUEST. THE POLICE COMPLIMENTED.  An inquest was held at the Victoria Hospital on Monday afterno3n before Mr. Coroner Robinson, touching the death of Edwin Rodgcrson, mule spinner' aged 50 years, of no fixed abode.—Supt. Barnett and Inspector O'Sullivan were present.— Elsworth was the foreman of the jury. _ .  Mrs. Harrison, wife of Joseph Ilerbertlia'rrison, living at '27, Birst-street, Burnley, daughter of the deceased, said he served his time to watch and clock making, but he had not followed that employment, She saw him about five weeks ago, when he . .  called at her house. He did. not tell hr where he  was working, but she gave him 6d. and some food, and he then went away. She did not think he had done any work for some time, beyond knocking up and down from one place to another, and she could not say how he made a living. He had been away for two and three years at a time, and she had never seen him during that time. She had never known him to be locked up in her life. P.C. Hutchinson (572), Nelson, said that when he went on duty on Wednesday, at 6 o'clock in the afternoon, deceased was in the office. He had not been put into a cell and witness took charge of him in the day-room. About twenty minutes to seven deceased said he was sick and wanted to vomit. Witness took him to a closet in one of the cells and went in behind him. Witness did not see him doing anything beyond making an effort to vomit. Deceased asked for a drink of water and witness had to go out of the cell into the corridor for it. On his return deceased drank some of the water and did not say anything. Ile was then taken from the cell into the day-room where he said that he was ill and witness gave him a pint of warm tea. Witness asked him if he was troubled with bronchitis or asthma as he was parting with some phlegm, but he did not say anyting. Witness thought that he was shann aing up to that time, but he began to see that something was wrong. Sergt. McVey then went for Dr. Millar. Deceased did uot seem to get much worse for sometime. Dr. Millar ordered him to be taken to the hospital, whither he was taken in a cab. Deceased began to get worse after getting into the cab, but was quite conscious until getting past the tram shed. Directly after passing Mr. Grimshaw's residence in Colne-road, witness gave deceased some soda and milk, after which he seemed to get rapidly worse and died in the cab in Colne-r aid at the end of lirennand-street. Ho made no statement on the road relative to the case, and witness could not get him to speak. By the Foreman: He had not the slightest suspicion that deceased had any poison in his possession. He had never seen him before. Deceased appeared to be perfectly sane and was quite cheerful in anticipation of getting out. He told witness that he used nitric acid for [soldering with, but did not say where he bought it. Sergeant McVey said he was on duty when prisoner was taken to the office at half-past five on suspicion of having stolen a pair of boots. He said he did not steal them, and whilst enquiries were being made he was put into the day-room. No charge was made against him, and if the statements he made were correct he would have been released. If his account had not been correct he would have been charged in the ordinary course and confined in a cell. Before being put into the cell he would have been searched. He was quite merry and lively when he was in the office and he was also sober. Witness returned at twenty minutes to seven after he had been making enquiries. He found deceased in the cell with the constable and took him into the day-room. He asked him if lie would like to see a doctor, as he was coughing as if he had bronchitis. Deceased said he would like to see a doctor, and witness west for Dr. Millar. When he returned deceased said to him "I'm done, I'm -. I have poisoned myself." Witness said "What have you poisoned yourself with?" and deceased replied "Nitric acid." Witness said "Where did you get it from?" and prisoner replied "It's in the water closet." Witness asked him "What's in the water closet?" and prisoner said "The bottle." Witness went into the closet and found the bottle produced in the pan of the closet. It was corked up. Witness shouted to a constable to fetch the doctor immediately. Deceased had told witness previously that he went about the country repairing clocks. Witness saw that deceased's mouth was quite white inside. He did not know anything about deceased. By Supt. Barnett: The boots were found to have been stolen from Jackson's pawnshop, Nelson. It was not usual to search persons who were simply detained. The Coroner said the man seas apparently cheerful when taken to the police station. No charge was preferred against him, as he had only been put there on suspicion. Whilst the police were making enquiries, and previous to laying a definite charge against him, deceased made an excuse to get to the closet. He was taken there, and then got rid of the constable for a moment by asking for a drink of water, and he seemed to have administered some of the poison to himself, which no doubt caused his death. There were signs of burning inside his mouth. So far as they knew he was a stranger in Nelson, and it was not like a case of a convict who would have to be sent back to serve a long unexpired term, though the charge against him might have been substantiated. It was fsr the jury to say if there was anything to induce them to think be was not of sound mind. lie (the Coroneel thought lie seemed to be in the proper possession of his senses. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased committed suicide by taking poison, and that he was of perfectly sound mind, and that no one was to blame in the matter. They also added that great credit was due to the police for taking so much care in the matter, and for trying to save the man's life.  DRINK CIiERRA.