The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1881-09-23 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

LANGPOBT. SAD SUICIDE OF A TRADESMAN.  One of the oldest tradesmen of the town, Mr. James Cable, a baker and corn merchant, residing in Bow. street, committed suicide on Thursday evening by cutting his throat. Deceased, who was 59 years of age, and the oldest member of the Langport Rifle Corps, was a bachelor and had for many years carried on a good business in the town, and was much respected. Lately several mysterious till robberies have been committed in the shop on Saturday nights, and this and other losses seem to have preyed on the mind of deceased. Within the last few weeks he has been very low and depressed, both physically and mentally, and has neglected his books. Dr. Brooke had attended him for about a fortnight, saw him on Thursday, consideied him better, and advised him to have a change. He took his meals as usual on Thursday, and at about 8.30 in the evening he went upstairs alone. About five minutes after, Mrs. Holloway went up and found him on the floor of his bedroom covered with blood. She raised an alarm, and Mr. E. G. Perren clerk in the Sack Company Offices, who was there making up deceased's books, went up and found him dying. He had a frightful gash in his throat and a razor in his right hand. Dr. 13rook e and his assistant were speedily on the spot, but he died immediately. Deceased appears to have stood in front of the looking-glass and severed all the arteries. The inquest on the body was held on Friday afternoon when the following evidence was given Harriet Holloway, housekeeper to deceased, said within the last few weeks she noticed a change in his health, which had been failing and had not been able to attend to his business as usual. He had been attended by Dr. Brooke for a fortnight. He had complained of a pain in his head, and was very low spirited The last time he went into the shop was in the afternoon. He tonic his dinner and tea as usual on Thursday. She saw him go upstairs to his bedroom about eight o'clock in the evening. A few minutes afterwards she went upstairs, and on looking in deceased's bedroom saw him in one corner and a lot of blood about him. She at once called to Mr. Edward Perren, who was downstairs, and he at once came up. Edward George Perren, a clerk in the employ of the West of Engl end Sack Company, said he went to deceased's house about seven o'clock on Thursday 'evening, and noticed deceased seemed very st:ange. He paced up and down the office several times, and then went out. He refused to take his medicine, although asked repeatedly to do so by Mrs. Holloway. A short time ago he told witness he had some losses, which were too much for him. About h di-past eight o'cl ,ck he heard deceased going upstairs. Mrs. Holloway followed him with a candle at once, and requested him to come back and take his medicine. Deceased came back directly into the office, and booked at witness, and walked up and down again for a few minutes. He suggested that he should sit down and take a little sleep. He came and sat down for a mieute, and then went upstairs to his bedroom. About five minutes afterwards he thought deceased ought not to be left alone, and said so to Mrs. Holloway, who took a candle and went upstairs. She at once called out, and witness, with Mrs. Holloway, went upstairs. He saw Mr. Cable in a corner of the room, with his head leaning a little forward. He saw an awful gash in his throat, and blood streaming out. He raised his head, but did not speak to him, as he thought him dead. He was near the dressing-table, in the drawers of which he kept his razors. He thought there some drops of blood on the table-cove!. He saw the razor in the right hand of deceased; it was smeared with blaod. He believed deceased troubled about his debts. James Towel! Knight, auctioneer, &c., said deceased was his uncle, and he was 59 years of age. About four years ago, when his books were in a backward state, he seemed like a man suffering from nervous depression, and said it was more than he could grapple with. What he thought had preyed more on his miad during the past six weeks had been two till robberres in both his Saturdays' takings. He had heard him say that if these losses continued he did not know what the end would be. On Saturday last he made up his cash-book, and he seemed most childish in Ins manner, and in consequence he fetched the doctor for  him. Dr. Brooke, who had been attending the deceased since Saturday, said he had been very low spirited, and complained of pains in his head. He appeared to have something on his mind. The Jury returne 1 a verdict of "Temporary insanity," and the Coroner, on behalf of himself and the jery, spoke most feelingly of the deceased, and said that the relatives of the deceased had their heart. felt sympathy in this their heavy bereavement.