Widnes Examiner. — 1899-03-17 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

INQUEST AND VERDICT.  Oa Slturday afternoon, Mr. S. Brighous7, county coroner, conducted an iiquiry in ths Parade Room of the Police Station, tcuching the death of Frank Cunliffe, managing director of the firm of Tattersall Cunliffe Limi.ed, tanners, Howley, who shot himoelf in his private office on Frilly afternoon.—Mr. R. Anderton was fonman of the jury. Walter Cunliffe, solicitor, Liwrpool,said deceased was his broth,r. He lodged in Liverpool, and wa3 managing director of the firm Dceased was 40 years of age.He last saw him alive on Friday. He left him at the works at two o'clock in the aite.ruoon. In coase:juence of the sate of deceased's health he th)ught it necessary on Tuu-sday to take him to a doctor. They saw Dr. Glynne, of Liverpool, who said deceased's coldition was attributab!e to overwork, and ads 'd him to go to a hydra.. pat hic institution and afterwards for a sea voyage. A Juror: What was his complaint ? Witness : The doctor did not name it. Deceased said that somPon, had been circulating a rumour against him in Warrington.  A Juror : Toe doctor should have said what his elm. pl lint was. Deceaied must have ben suffering from general debility. Witness said that drceved lived in Bewsoy-stre,et for a good mAny rats. Be was always of a very quiet disposition. They had no idea that he intended to take away his life. Whni he received the doctor's advice he said he could not b c.*) to a hydro. The doctor told him to take a_week's holiday. _ _  By the C)roner : Be had ncver takln any lengthy holiday. Re pail very clo.r, attention to business. By Inspector He did not know deoeased kept a revolver in his office. There were two guns in cases there.  Herbert Crosby, clerk in the employ of the company, said decease:l came to business at the usual time on Friday, and was in his ofcejn the afternoon. Witness saw him at 3-23 sitting his chair. Nothing unasuat occurred th n. He (witness) went into the yard, and was there about two minutes. When he came back ne thought be tiv-,u2lit he heard a snore in dece4s7d's office. He took no notice, but then h 3 heard a groan: He saw a warehouseman.Rnd told him he tlought there was something wrong. They went to the office, and found deceased lying on the floor in a NO of tlood. Wit-,ess telephoned for Dr. Adams, who, on arrival, pronourlced deceased to be dead. Witness sent a message to the police. He subsequently saw the revolver. He had never seen it before.  Inspector Phillips said it was a new Colt's revolver, conttining one di,charged cartridge, Toe other barrels were empty..  Witne;s said that whoa hi returned to the office after dinner (on o'clock) deceased asked aim t 3 go a walk for an hour.  The C 'toner: Had you noticad anything strange about him ?  Witness :  He had been very quiet.  It was elicited that decease-LI was a very steady man. Witness s lid he was smoking a cigarette two minutes be. fore he shot himself.  Ernest Clayton, in the employ of the Company, said the clerk told him on Fr:day afternoon that Mr. Canliffe was making a peculiar noise in his office. He (witness) did not think anything was wrong, and went back to his work. 'Th c:erk afzerwardi returned and said that Mr. Curiliffe was lying in a pool ot blood. Witness went into the office and unfastened deceased's tie and collar. He was lying on the floor. There was a wound in his head. The revolver was under his leg. Witness told Crosby to bring the flreman. Witncss had noticed that decease] was strange in his manner. He was very particular about his work, and, in fact, was an ideal manager. He had Wen strange during the last fortnight. Witness could tell by (ha way he did certaia things that something was wrong. He had been very quiet, and that was unusual.  - A Juror: Had anything been troubling bim beside business ?  Witness : Nothing to my knowledge. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased had c mmittml suicide during a fit ot temporary insanity, brought on by overwork, and .;passed a vote A condolence to the family and relatives.