The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1883-10-13 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SINGULAR CASE OF SUICIDE.  On Tuesday Mr. Oarttar,' coroner for West Kent, held an inquest at 472, ugh-street, Lewisham, on the body of Ernest Louie Armstrong, clerk, aged 21, residing lately with his brother, a chemist, at that address. Some few months ago deceased met with an accident whilst playing football, and, in the opinion of his medical adviser, his brain has since been affected. He bad no pecuniary difficulties that the witnesses knew of. On Thursday night in last week he went to the " Freemason's Railway " Tavern, Ladywell, and there got into conversation with a man named Andrews, and a railway porter named Norton, to whom he stated that he had had an argument as to which was the most vnlnerable part in which a man could shoot himself. One said in the forehead, the other through the heart, but deceased said, " I think it is here," pointing to his throat. He also said he had had some words at home, and Andrews told him to get in at the window by a ladder. After paying for some drink he bade them good night, and went across some fields leading to the grounds of his brother's house, and was never after seen alive. When he was missed Andrews had a dream that deceased was in the summerhouse in the grounds and wrote a note to that effect to his employer (Mr. Hopwood, of Lewisham), and on Monday, when he saw him, repeated his impression that deceased was there. Mr. Hopwood did not believe it, but said they would soon ascertain. They then went towards the summerhouse, and on reaching it Mr. Hopwood came back and said "He is there." Information was then given to the pollee at Lewisham Station. Deceased was found lying on his back in a pool of blood, a six•chambered Colt revolver lying by his side as if it had fallen from his left hand, and there was a pistol bullet wound under the chin. One of the chambers had been discharged, and the other five were loaded. Decomposition had set in, as if the body had lain there several days. The bolt of the ,door was shot, but not into the bar of the lock. On the body were found a box of cartridges, a price list of pistols, two photos, 30, some tobacco and papers.—Dr. Steele, the police divisional surgeon, was called, and in his evidence said when he saw the body there was apparently a firearm wound through the mouth from left to right, but there was so _pinch blood about the head that he could not traps the exit of the bullet. Death must have taken place immediately after the wound was inflicted, and there was no signs of a struggle. Deceased must have been in a lying or sitting position at the time, not etanding.—Mr. Jackson, Armstrong's medical attendant, said he had often complained of his head to witness and his own sister, and he was excited at times.—Mr. Armstrong, the brother, said he did not know the revolver produced, but was under the Impression it was recently purchased, as last week one was discovered in deceased's desk and was taken away by his sister, and he did not think he would have two pistols 'at one time.—The coroner, having commented upon the evidence, the jury returned ft verdict that deceased committed 'suicide, it the time labouring under temporary derangement.