Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1886-10-16 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE STRANGE SUICIDE OF A  DURHAM GENTLEMAN.  On Saturday afternoon last the Coroner of Carlisle held an inquest on view of the body of Mr Emerson Martindale, of tfuggleswiek, Blackhill, Durham, who committed suicide on Friday morning by piercing his heart with a darning needle. —Mr 'William Martindale, Westgate, Weardale, Durham, stated in evidence that deceased was his brother, and was 66 years ef age. He was formerly a cement manufacturer, but had retired from business. He had been in lodgings all his life, having never married. He lodged in Shieldfield, Newcastle, but his landlady -died, and he went somewhere else. Witness last saw him alive in May last, when he was at a brother's house at Muggleswick, Blackhill. Witness had had a letter or two from him. Deceased left his brother's about a month since, and came to Carlisle. He suffered from nervousnese, and often complained of weakness of the heart, but he was not in a depressed state of mind, and there was nothing in his circumstances to depress him. He was never under medical advice to witness's knowledge.—Mr Harrison 13amfather, St. John's Chapel, Weardale, stated that be was a grocer, and married a niece of deceased six years ago. Witness had never seen him. Deceased commissioned witness to conduct his affairs, and witness had had correspondence with hint. He addressed his letters to the Post Office, Carlisle. The first communication witness had about him at Carlisle was when Mr Ryley sent his will to him. Before deceased came to Carlisle this year he was in Leeds, and also at Muggleswick. About three weeks. ago witness received a letter from deceased ; at the same time he received the will from Mr Ryley. Deceased told him be had made out a will, and it would be coming. Since than witness had had several letters, in which deceased complained of his health. He never mentioned anything about medical attendance. The last lettel was dated October 4th, and in it he said, "My mind is, and has been, all to pieces for a long time, and lam quite out of my head. Yen had better wait until this is over. [will then see what is to be done. My health is no better, but worse.' Other letters were to the same effect.—Ire Jane Dand, Portland-place, spoke to deceased having CDIIIO to her house to stay three or four weeks ago. He seemed troubled with restlessness. He had no medical advice. He went to bed as usual on Thursday night. On Friday morning she heard moans coming from his bedroom. She knocked twice and walked in, and saw him lying in bed as white as a sheet, and in evident pain. About a fortnight previously he borrowed a darning needle from her.—Dr. Moffatt deposed that he was called to see deceased, whom he found lying naked in bed with a darning needle piercing lug heart. It must have penetrated the heart two and a half inches. He extracted the needle, and death ensued. In the heart were two wounds. The upper wound was ragged or contused, and about the size of a fourpenny piece; evidently the needle had been moved about, hut it did not penetrate the chamber there. Half an inch lower down was a wound penetrating the left chamber of the heart. Deceased could not survive such a wound beyond a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes. There was an old-standing disease of the heart. There was no blood visible when the needle was drawn ont.—The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during a state of temporary insanity."  ADVICE TO MoTnene.—Are you broken in If you are troubled with a cough or cold, your rest by a sick child suffering with the paint:lent- difllculty of breathing, hoarseness, tightness of the Ling teeth ? at once to a chemist and gets, bottle chest, or any affection of the chest or lungs, take of Bias WINSLOW'S Socrrarso Symp. It will relieve BUDDEN'S BALSA M OF 1101tEBOLIND AND the poor suderer Immediately. It is perfectly harm- COLTtiFOOT. One dose relieves, one bottle cures. less, and pleasant to taste; it products natural, quiet Don't be_persuaded to take anything else. Ask for sleep by relieving the child from pain, and the little "