The Haslingden Gazette. — 1905-01-28 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

PREFERRED DEATH. Oswaliftwistie Man's Suicide.  Weilnemlay afternoon an inque4 titan held by Coroner 11. J. Itobinmil at the Onvaliltwilitte Cooperative tovembly•room, on tire body of an old man named Henry Haworth, a weaver. of 87, New. lane, ittirwaldtwivile. who took a done of lall(61111M on Monday and died OIL Tumolay. Proposed bad iv.en out of work for mime time, being depretried rorimquenee. . .  Mrs. .llaworth said her husband bad done very little work during the last twelve months, as he could it get it. Asked how old he was, lie said as near as she could tell he was 61. Ile had not I trunk much lately, as he had not had the money. Ile threatened ti do away with himself the pro%jolts week. Ile would not have any dinner on Monilsy, saying that he would have no more to eat in this world. Ile then went into the back, and she tlid not ,ee him pull the &Ml° our of his pocket. She raw the bottle in his hand, lint it was empty. She asked hint what he had been drinking, and he said, " Pourpennyworth of laudanum." She rent for Dr. Armistead, and he and the police tried to keep him alive, but he died at Tuesday  The Coroner said that concluded the evidence, and the question for the jury to decide was as to whether deceased was in his right mind when he committed the ratt act, and was re:Tonsil:le for his actions. A Juryman: We want sufficient proof that he had been drinking on Monday morning or not. 'the Coroner said that did inq affect the case much. . .  As the jury 4ecmed to desire more evidence, the Coroner called . . . . .  John Casey, spinner, who lalged at diseeased's house, lie said he was in deceased's company all Monday morning until about twelve o'clock, lksceased had only three pints of beer. He was talking in a funny way, saying that he was worth as much dead as alive. He hail been funny a week or two. and was always talking about work. He did not go with him to purchase the laudanum. He left witnesn at a beerhouse about dinnectinte and came hack with an eight ounce bottle. He showed it him, and witness tried to take it from him, but deceased kicked him on the leg and he desisted. Hle could not see what was in the bottle, an he had a white paper wrapped round it. De. cea,ed then went home, but wanes, did not go until about two hours afterward,. He asked what was to do with deceased, and Mr. Haworth said he had been "supping" something out of a bottle. He found a bottle in the ash-talc, and said ho had born drinking something wrong. Dereaned was asleep, and he asked whether he should bring a doctor. Mrs. Haworth. who wan trying to waken. deceased, said it would be best. By the Coroner: Deceased mutt have been asleep some time whets he got home. By a Juryman: lie did not notice whether there was a label on the bottle. It was covered with ashes when he found it. At the conclusion of the evidence, Dr. Armintead, who was present, rose and said he would like to pay a etimpliment to the police-sergeant. and his men for the manner in which they had carried out his, instructions. Artificial respiration was kept . up for 14 hours without avail to try and revive de. I(vaned from his somnolent condition. (Hear, bear.) The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind." .