Widnes Examiner. — 1898-09-02 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

INQUEST AND VERDICT.  At the Police Station, Warrington, on Saturday. Mr. Jones, deputy-coroner, held an inquest on the body of Sergeant Drill Instructor William Healy, of the 3rd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment, stationed at Orford Barracks, whose death we recorded last week. Frances Eh aly said the deceased was her husband, and they lived in " E Block," at Orford Barracks. He was 38 years of age. At a qnarter ti two o'clock on Thursday afternoon he went cut of the house to the stores to work. She asked him not to go, because he told her he was Buffering severely with pain in his head and face. He told witness be would go and finish his work, and would see the doctor the next morning. She had not seen him since. He had suffered for a long time with his head and face, which was caused by having a tooth wrongly drawn about two years ago. He had undergone tw operations. He was very depressed, and said, he was worse than ever on Thursday, and he could not eat any dinner. He hod disehareel blood from his core in the morning. There was no came: why he should take his life eeelet the severe pain he suffered. Provost Sergeant Morgan Henry Kelly said he saw Sergeant-Instructor Healy at 2-45 on Thurrday afternoon in the sergeants' mess. He told Men he was suffering from severe pains in the head. He went out of the mess and die sot say where he was going. Witness met deceased's wife at 8-35 the same evening, and at her request he went to look for Healy. He went to the armoury room and found deceased lying on the floor dead, with his mouth open. There was blood about the place. He did not examine him, but went to repert the matter to his superior officer. He also saw a rifle lying across &ceased's feet. Witness said that Healy was en good terms with everyone in the barracks. Colour-Sergeant Welsh slid he saw Healy at four minutes to thre e on Thursday afternoon in the Armoury Stores. He told witness that he was nearly mad with his face and head. He had complained about it since Tuesday. Healy left him, saying he was going to the shirt-room. Witness did not see him alive again. Police-Inspector Taylor said the matter was reported to him at 9.30 p.m. on Thursday. He at once proceeied there,and was taken to the Armoury, where he saw deceased lying on his back in a pool of bleod. On calm n• jog the body he found the chin was black with powder, and hie mouth was open. There was a bullet mark in the roof of his mouth and one at the back of kis head. From the marks of blood he came to the conclusion that Healy had been standing upend shot himself. Witness scorched the place, and in the ceiling, zorresponding to where Healy had been standing,he found a spent bullet buried four inches. The distance to the ceiling would be about four feet from Healy when he was standing up. There I was a rifle !ling at his feet,aed a piece of cord attached to the trigger. There were two loops at the loose end lof the strneeand the assumption was that Healy put his foot in the !roes of the string to pull the trigger. There were two cartridges lying by him. In deceased's pocket there were sew ret letters in connection with athletic matters. On Thursday afternoon he had arranged a cricket maech between a team from the Barracks and the Police, but the former team was not raised.—By a juryman : Nobody heard the report of the gun. lospector Spinks said that Healy was a general favour' Rein the town. Captain Hawes spoke of the high esteem in which Healy was held in the regiment. He performed his duties consclentiously, and officers aed men were extremely ' sorry to hear of his death. The jury recorded a verdict of " Suicide whilst of unsound mind,caused by intense pain." Tney desired to extend their deep sympathy with the widow. Mrs. Healy thanked the jury for their expression of Ilsympathy.