Blandford Weekly News. — 1889-06-15 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SAD SUICIDE AT WAREHAM.  A sad case of suicide took place on Sunday at Wareham, a gloom being cast oyez the place when it became known that Mr. dames Trenchard had met his death by his own hand on the morniag of the above day. Mr. Trenchard has for years past carried on business as a grocer and wine and spirit merchant, and having never married, his household consisted of a worthy old housekeeper only, and combined with a fairly good business, it was generally thought that he was in very go3d. circumstances. It seems that on Sunday morning, about half past six, the housekeeper heard Mr. Trenehard open his bedroom door, and, on coming downstairs a little later found her master lying on the kitchen floor with a lot of blood about him. She immediately ran across to the Polies Station, and Supt. Feltham was promptly on the spot when he found the deceased lying on his back wits his bead inclined to the left, whilst by his aide was a small knife saturated with blood, whilst in his throat was a larger one, which Mr. Feltham immediately pulled out. When Dr. Daniel arrived life was, of course, extinct. The deceased was a member of the Corporation and was SU years old. The inquest was held on Monday morning before Mr. H. Symmonds, when the following were sworn on the jury :—.tleesre. Gillingham (foreman), Laces, Elates, Gribbett, Bennett, Fookes, Yearaley, klayter, Malpos, Barnes, Gould, Cobb.—After viewing the body the first witness called was S,.san Balaton, who said she was housekeeper to Mr. Trenchard,who had carried on business as a grocer for about 20 years. She heard Mr. Trenchard open his bedroom door the previous moraidg about halfpast six, but did not hear him go downstairs. She slept in the room above him and got up about 7, and went downstairs. She picked up the letters from the front door, rolled up the blinds and than went in the kitchen and found deceased lying on the floor bleeding, and with a wound in his throat. She last saw him about half-past eleven the previous night, when she wished him "Good night "at his bedroom door, and during the day he was in and out of his shop. Witness did not touch him but ran for the police. During the past fortnight he seemed better than formerly. It was on the 9th of May that he scratched his neck and on account of that he had been watched. She knew he tried to do something, and saw the scratch on his neck and since than he had be-n attended by Dr. Daniel. He had had a great deal of trouble, and about three weeks ago he called his creditors together. Witness did not think anything else weighed on his mind. She knew the knives produced.—Superintendent Feltham stated that when he went into the kitchen he found deceased on the floor lying on his back, his head inclining en the left aids; he only had his shirt on. A large wound was in his throat from which blood was flowing. In the wound was the large knife (produced) which he pulled out; whilst on the left side was the entailer knife. There was a twitching of the body and a gurgling of blood in the throat. He immediately sent for Dr. Daniel but when he came he was dead.—Dr. Daniel said the wound in the throat was about five inches in length extending about three or four inches below the left ear to about two inches on the right, rather more than half way. He had divided the large vessel on the left side and the upper cartilage of the windpipe on the left side. Such a wound would cause deatu in a few minutes, and might have been caused by the two knives. One knife would have been sufficient, and the wound might have been self inflicted by the right hand. It could have been done by the left. He had been dead about a few minutes. He saw him last on Thursday. He was better ahan he had been, but seemed rather restless. He had been ill, and seemed very anxious about his affairs. On the Bth of May he was asked to go and see Mr. Trenchard, and found him in a very excitable state, and he showed hiin a small scratch on the side of his neck. He gave strict orders that he was not to be left alone, and attended him twic3 a day until he was getting better, when witness went twice a week. People who suffered from a low state of mind were liable to commit suicide. He was not taking medicine, but suffering from great depression of spirits, but was perfectly clear in his mind last week, and was quite rational. He did not consider it necessary to have him put under restraint altogether, as he was perfectly clear in his mind.—The Coroner having summed up, the jury returned a verdict of suicide whilst suffering from temporary insanity.—The Coroner said he hoped that in the words that had fallen from him Mrs. Balaton would not think he meant to attach any bledne to her.