The Telegram. — 1893-03-21 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

ILOHBSTER. SAD CAME OF SUICIDE.  EXTRAORDINARY LETTER.  An inquest was held at the Coffee Tavern on Monday, before the coroner (Mr. W. Midler), and a jury of whom the Rev. W. D. H. Armstrong was foreman. on the body of Mary Ann Lane, wife of a afoolll in the employ of Mr. K Look, farmer, who committed suicide by hanging herself on the previous Friday night.— The coroner said that the only subject for the consideration of the jury was the condition of the unfortunate woman's mind at the tune she took her life. She had been suffering twin a mania of • very insidioas character, called religious mania, for sonte time past. Joseph Lane, husband of the deceased, said that his wife was 32 years of age. She had been unwell for the past two months, being in a very low state. He considered that it was due to the efteet that the recent ease of suicide had on her. She had very strong religious views, and told her neighbour not long ago that she was "east out" altogether. She was the "kindest wife that ever could be, but she had not a very strong nerve. She had never threatened to take her life. Last week site said that " something" had told her that she could not live, but she could never find out what that " something was. She had never said that • she wanted to die, nor had she ever attempted to take her life. On Friday evening witness went to bed about seven o'clock. nut being very well, the deceased coming upstairs about 9.30. She seemed " flighty" and more excited than she usually was. The little girl woke UP and said she wanted to drink. Deceased fetched her some tea, and after she had drank it went downstairs and came up again. Site seemed restless. At last she got into bed and witness dropped ofito sleep. About 1.15 he woke up and missed his wife. His daughter said that sire had been up and downstairs two or three Mans. Witnelis went downstairs and found a lighted candle and a knife on the table and a piece of rope on the floor. He searched for his wife, and eventually saw her hanging from a staple in the wall in the hack-yard. He called out to her, but received no answer ; he then caught hold of her hand, and found it was cold. He could not cut the body down, but lie ran for the doctor.  —...„ _ Emma Jane liapson, wife of Itobt. Ranson, labourer, of Ilchester. and sister to the deceased, said that the suicide in December worried her sister a good deal, and she became very nervous. Witness called on her at about eight o'clock inn Friday evening, and stayed for an hour. She seemed rattier flushed, and said that her head was very kid. About a month ago she told witness that since she bad been upset in her mind her sins had been coining up more. She had both read and prayed, hut found no rest, she said. She had never been like it before the case of suicide in December. Dr. Daunt stated that the deceased had been a patient of his, off and on, for the past six years. About four months ago lie began to attend her for nervous depression, resulting from general debility. He last saw her alive on Thursday morning, when she complained of a pain in her head and of feeling weak. She did not exhibit any symptoius of insanity as far as be could see. She had never spoken to him on religious matters, but he knew that she hada tendency to religious mania ; he did not think her of a suicidal disposition. He was sent for at about 1.45 on Saturday morning, and found the body of the deceased hanging from a staple in the wall. He cut her down, and found that she had been dead for about 20 minutes. As far as he could judge, deceased must have placed the back of the chair against the wall and have tied the knot round the neck after having fastened the rope to the staple. Her toes ore touching the seat of the chair.—Questioned by the coroner, witness said that the line of demarkation between man,. -f any kind t and suicidal mania was so slight that it was almost impossible to say where the difference was. He had no doubt but that the deceased was insane at the tone she coin' muted the act, which was one of considerable dent). eration. .  A verdict of " Suicide whilst suffering from religious mania" was returned, and, an the proposition of a juryman, the jury gave their fees to the husband af the deceased.  On Monday night, the fallowing was found written on a piece of cardboard in Mrs. Lanes handwriting " ar Joe,—Don't blame anyone for this, but be kind to Nellie and George, and don't do any basin to yourself, hut look to Christ. And live with Emma Jane and Bob. It is not trouble, but I feel I cannot like any longer. to don't grieve about me. but live as lons as you can so good bye, and t;od bless you."— Nellie and George are the son and daughter of the deceased. Emma Jane and Bob being sister and brother.in-law respectively.