The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1913-10-18 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

TRAGIC SUICIDE.  CONSTABLE'S WIFE'S DEATH.  DID. THE NEIORBOURS TORRENT  PATHETIC FAREWELL LETTER.  Mr. Cecil golden, Borough Coroner, conducted an inquest on the body of •Mrs. Richardson, aged 31, of 35, Sun-street, wife of ,Police-constable Richardson (2615), who died on Tuesday morning from the effects ;of self-administered ca,rbolicene.  - . . Dr. Biwa, junior house Surgeon at .the Borough Hospital,.-said that the deceased was broaght to .the hospital at 7.15 a.m. on the 14th inst. She was in-an extremely comatose cosaition. They did all they Could,' but the case, was hopeless and she died half-an-hour after admission. Death Was due to paralysis of the heart consequent On carbolicene poisoning. P.C. Richardeon, husband of the deceased, said he had four children living, aged 6 years, 5 years, 3 years, and eight , months. The deceased had been very ill at her last confinement, and had been suffering from ill-health ever since. Be had had occasion to lay' an information against Edward Owens, 37, Sun-street (next door to his) for keeping pigeons to be a nuisance, and also against the son, George Owens, for disorderly behaviour. Since' then his wife had complained that some 'of' the neighbours had been tormenting her. He himself had heard something of •it.-It I upset her, and he told her untie take any 11 notice of it: She worked herself into' such I &state, however, that he could do_nothing ' with. her. On -Monday morning, 13th inst., she-said to hini "Last. night'! had a look at. your razors. Then I thought of .my Children and didn't do' anything." He did not think* very much of her threat, -thong's he began to take more notice. She had' threatened to take her life on previous occasions when' she was "worked up," but this was only during the last eight months. He went. on duty at 10 p.m. on Monday, evening, leaving his wife low-spirrted•tben.' At 2.90 a.m. on Tuesday morning be called in at the house and found that his Wife had been asleep. He told' her to, go asleep I again and returned :to his, beat: When he returned home at about 6.35. a.m. he lit a fire and made some tea, which .he intended taking up to his wife. His second eldest child came aownstairs to him and asked .whatwas the matter with her motber.. Be ;want • upstairs, and found her unconscious .on the bed and making a gargling sound 'in her .throat. There was a'smell of carlope acid, so he administered an emetic, 'esnt•for assistance, and his wife was ,con. .veyed in the .motor ambulance to the hospital. He had. nciticed a bottle of . carbolinese disinfectant in the parlour together with a cup,whieh proved tehavo•oontained some of the poison. Under the-pillow he focind•a•note in his .wife's handwriting. The Coroner read • the -letter in . Court. It was' written on the back of an envelope, ,and was as follows : "Dear Jim,—;Good-bye and God bless • you and my little children. Got. Nellie , and Cissie to look to them. I•roill-bo- a 'trouble to nobody, and they can skit at me no more, for there is some treachery, but I cannot fathom it out, but keep your neighbours out of my house. Be patient with my children for God's sake. What has to come out will cut. Perhaps Mrs. Reeves will tell you. for I do -not know. I've been watched enough. Give my best ressects to Mr. Humphreys.