Darlington & Richmond Herald. — 1874-07-04 (Darlington, Durham, England)

DESPERATE SUICIDE AT DAR LINGTON.  On Monday afternoon, a shocking case of suicide occurred at Darlington. About three o'cla)ck in the afternoon the deceased, a woman named Jane Neashsm, living in George's-square, Bridge-street, was found in her own house by some of the neighbours lying in a pool of blood. Her throat was severely cut, the wound extending almost from ear to ear, and had apparently been inflicted with great determination. Two razors, each of which was covered with blood, were found lying on the floor, and it is surmised that deceased had used both weapons in the accomplishment of her purpose, as two dreadful wounds, almost cutting a portion of the neck away, had been inflicted. When fouud life was not quite extinct. Medical gentlemen were immediately sent for, but before they arrived the woman had expired. The deceased, who is a middle-aged woman, was the wife of a labourer, and had one child. She had been seen shortly before the deed must have been committed going about her household duties, and it is surmised that the rash act had been committed under a sudden attack cf insanity, which disease, it is stated, has afflicted some other member of her family.  On Wednesday afternoon an inquest was held at the Wheat Shed Inn,befove Mr Thos. Dean,deputy coroner, upon the body of Jane Neasham, who committed suicide on Monday.—Ed ward Neasham, labourer, husband of the deceased, was the first witness. He deposed that the deceased was 42 years of age. He lasp saw her alive on Monday morning when he went out to work, between nine • and ten. Deceased complained on the previous day of being unwell, but said, in answer to witness on the following morning, that she was better. At that time there was no change in her demeanour. A Juryman : Had you any quarrel on Saturday night with the deceased 2—Witness: None at all, sir.—Tn answer to the Coroner, witness said he did not knew.' •whether the deceased had been drinking or not.—Jane Neasham, aged 10, daughter of the deceased, stated that on going upstairs, about two o'clock:ou Mon lay alernoon, she found her mother sittiug on the carpet, her throat ' bleeding prcfusely. Witness hastened downstairs for some of the neighbours.—By a juryman: There was nothing in the deceased's hand when she (witness) got upstairs. Her father and the deceased had a few words on Sunday and Monday morning.—Sarah Richardson said she was called into the house Ey the last witness. Deceased was sitting in a pool of blood with a rezor in her r:ght hand. Witness at once went for assistance.— Police.constable Petrie deposed to being called into the h'iuse. The deceased was lying on her right side on a carpet in the middle of an upstairs room. She was alive at that time, but expired abant five minutes afterwards. There were two razors, both stained with blood, lying about twelve inches off her feet. Her throat was severely cut' and there was a large piece of flesh lying on the floor.—ln answer to a juryman the officer said he thought deceased bad used a looking-glass when cutting her throat. —After a short consultation the jury returned a verdict that deceased had committed suicide, but there was no evidence to show what state of mind she was in at the time.