The Warwickshire Herald. — 1892-11-24 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SHOCKING SUICIDE AT ASTON.  A vicrtx TO IIrgMPERANCIL  Dr Wynter (coroner for Central Warwickshire) hell an itquest on Monday afternoon, at the Alhambra Inn, Clifford-street, on toe body of EliLaboth Washbourno (41), wife of Edwin Washbourne, bicycle maker, 117, Alma-street, wbo committed suicide by cutting her throat on Friday, November IMb. The first witness called was  Edwin Waehbounie, husband of the deceased, who identified the body as that of his wife. He said hat on Friday dinner time he went to his mid-day meal, which he found already prepared. He and his wife eat down and ate the same, after which the latter expressed a wish for some apples. He gave her a penny, and told her to fetch some, which she did. He then said he would like his tea ready at mix that evening, as he wished to go to the theatre; she acquiesced with this remark, and he left the house. On returning at night, he met • gentlemen for whom he had been doing some repairs, and during the conversation he told witness that he had just been to his house but there was no one in. He expressed surprise, went home, tried the door, and found it deked. Potting his finger into the leek he discovered that the key was in the inside, AO he was certain his wife ass in the house. Ho then rattled the door, but getting no reply he opened the kitchen window, , and there saw hie wife on her knees. lie thought she had been having beer, as she was accustomed to, but on calling her mad receiving no answer, this thought was diapelled. He lit the gas and there saw a pool of blood on the floor and his wife kneeling down iti the middle of it. He ran out of the homes and went and called Mr and Mrs Smith, and ultimately Dr zones. By the Coroner: The razors were generally kept in a case on the second shelf of the cupboard. When be left her after dinner she seemed in reasonable health and spirits. She lad cot been an invalid, but she took a great deal of beer. He lived very happily when she was not in liquor, but wheu in been very miserably. He did not have any quarrel with her at the dinner table, neither on the day in question, and he had no idea what caused her to commit the deed. She was out on the previous Saturday night, and he could not get to know where she had gone to. Moreover, she had underclothing when she went out and came back.  Vincent Alexander Jones, medical practitioner, Alma•street, Birmingham, said that he was called to the last witness's house on the day in question, and on arrival found deceased on the hearth on her knees in a pool of blood, her head also resting on the floor. In her right. her she held a razor. She was dead at the time, and life had probably been extinct about an hour. There was a deep wide cut on the left side ot the neck, severing the wind pipe. No made an external examination and found the body well nourished. There were several bruises on the body and eye, also a swelling near the abdomen. Death was duo to hernmorage, in consequenee of the severance of the wind pip.. Deceased's husband, on being recalled, said he was perfectly aware of the fact that she had these bruises, but he did not know bow; it was certainly not through his treatment. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during a fit of temporary insanity.