Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1898-12-09 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

SUICIDE BY DROWNING.  A third case of suicide at the Quay has occurred within the last three weeks, the victim in this instance being Martin Eelbeck. The deceased a man of ee,ciintric and penurious habits, worked for many years in a small shop near the Primitive Methodist Chapel, St. John-street. There he also lived and slept till about a year ago, when he went to lodge with some people named Dalby, at 80, Kirkgate. Latterly he had been much troubled about his eyesight, and became depressed in spirits. He had spoken to a friend on the subject of religion, and appeared to entertain a strange delusion that for him the day of grace was past. Yesterday morning when his landlord went into his bedroom the poor fellow was missing, and the discovery of card pinned to the mantelshelf led to the suspicion which proved to be well founded, that he had drowned himself.  Mr. Luke White, coroner, held an inquest in the evening at the Bull and Sun, Mr. Storrow being foreman, when the following evidence was taken : Stabler Doalby, who is ..general dealer, and lives at 30, Birkgate, Bald: The body viewed by the jury is that of Madill Belbeck, who was 54 years of age, and lodged with me. He wan formerly a dealer in firewood, but retired from business about twelve months ago, having sufficient means to do so. Last night about a quarter to eleven I left him in bed; had been in bed the greater part of the day, being much depressed; his eyes were bad and his mind was troubled. I said if he wanted anything during the night he was to call me. I got up about a quarter to seven, went to his bedroom, and found lie was not there. He had written on the back of a card (the syllabus of the Liberal Association) the words Harbour," and below it "Lord heed." The card was pinned to the edge of the mantelpiece. I took the card to Mr. Dookes, blacksmith, a relative, and told him to *To down to the Quay, as I was afraid what had happened. Deceased had been low in spirits several days. By the Jury: Neither I nor my wife was related to the deceased.  Jackson Jewitt, 4, Wesley-terrace, Princess-street, deputy harbour master, said that a policeman was referred to him saying that a man had left word to say he was going to do away with himself, and so he (witness) went and got his grapplings. He and a man named John Clarke, went to make a search when the litter saw the deceased in the water, straight over end between the coal vessels of Clarke and Gray. They got him out and witness found he knew him well. The deceased must have jumped off the pier head foremost into the water. Dr. Thompson said be saw the body of the deceased at half past nine in the morning. It was in a rope house at the Harbour side. He made an external examination but did not find any marks of violence. Death was due to drowning, but he could not say how many hours the body had been in the water. The Coroner said that if it had not been for the card they could have rettuned a verdict of "found drowned" but having regard to that and the evidence as to the state of his mind the day previous, he thought they would be satisfied that the man committed suicide. He thought they would also be justified in coming to the conclusion that he committed suicide when temporarily insult,. The jury concurred and a verdict was returned accordingly.