The Northern Guardian. — 1893-09-26 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

EXTRAORDINARY LETTERS.  Last evening Dr. G. Danford Thomas held an inquest, at the Islington Coroner's Court, on the body of John Prescott Richardson, aged 39, described as lately a commission agent, and formerly of the Army Hospital Corps. Deceased, who had served in the Soudan, was a married man, and his relatives reside in Boulevard at Hull. On Thursday evening he was found lying on the floor of his bedroom at 39, Rock Street, Finsbury Park, dying from the effects of self-inflicted injuries to both arms. George Myers, wholesale druggist, of Boulevard, Hull, stated that he was related to the deceased by marriage. Some years ago the deceased entered the Army Hospital Corps and served in the Soudan, where he won the bronze and silver medals. Since he had left the Army he had always been in an unsettled, restless state. He had been a commission agent in the German yeast trade, but lately he was oat of employment altogether. His wife had independent mean% Five or six weeks ago he went to London ostensibly in search of employment. When he left Hull he had between £4O and £5O in his possession, and he had received remittances from his friends since.—Mrs Emma Crawley, of 39, Rock Street, Seven Sisters Road, said the deceased had lodged at her house three weeks. On Thursday he never showed himself, and becoming alarmed witness and her husband knocked repeatedly at his bedroom door. They heard nothing within save a murmur.—Polic,e-constable Walter said, when called in he found the deceased lying in a pool of blood on the floor, bleeding from wounds in both arms below the elbow, apparently inflicted with a blood-stained razor. Witness also discovered seven letters written in pencil in deceased's handwriting. Deceased was conveyed to the Great Northern Central Hospital, where he died.—The Coroner said in one of the letters, addressed to "the coroner and police," was the fol lowing:— To avoid giving you trouble I at once declare my proper name, ,John Prescott Richardson, and my address, Boulevard, Hull. I trust that all letters left behind me will not be interfered with. I also hope that you will give the pleas the most meagre details possible. This I ask, not for my sake, but for the sake of my family. Whatever I leave behind me is the property of Mr Crawley, my landlord, with the exception of any articles which may be asked for by relatives. In other letters addressed to the people with whom lit lodged, the deceased more than once apologised for his "sudden and abrupt departure." In a further letter he said : I would add that lam alone to blame for everything which has led to this act. On Tuesday night I took two ounces of opium in the hope of its destroying my life, but it had not the desired effect. To-night lam taking another ounce, but if this should not prove fatal, I shall attempt to sever an artery. In a letter addressed "To the unnecessarily unemployed of this globe," which commenced, " What do you say about practical Christianity ?" he spoke about his inability to obtain work, and distributed curses and blessings very freely, adding : I have ruined my dearest one through my love of spending money. I honestly believe that work would have saved me. Have I any work now where I have gone? I defy Christians to answer that question. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while of unsound mind."