Widnes Examiner. — 1896-04-25 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

INQUEST AND VERDICT. On Wednesday evening. Mr. Brighouse,coroner,held an inquest in the Parade Room at the Police Station on the body of William Warburtnn, 63 years of age, who committed suicide at his residence. 58. Pinners'-brow, on Tuesday afternoon, by shooting himself. John Warburton, wiredrawer, 14. West-street, said the deceased, who waz his father, was a wiredrawer,but for the last six months had been unable to follow his employment owing to ill-health. Re had been under the care of Dr. Kisby, as he suffered from bronchitis and asthma. He last saw his father alive on Monday,and he had then no reason to believe he would take away his life. The small cannon now produced, with which it was supposed the deceased had killed himself, had been in the Possession of the family as long as witness could recollect; he used to fire it himself when he was a lad. Inspector Sninks said the cannon was kept in the coal hole under the stairs. It had been in the possession of the family for over 80 years. Elizabeth Tattersall (14) said the deceased vas her uncle. She did the housework for him and his mother. Sae lived with them during the day, but went home to APep. Her uncle went out about two o'clock on Tuesday afternoon for a walk. Vie returned about half-past three, and appeared to be all right. He sat on the sofa, and soon afterwards complained of a pain in his head. He asked his mother, who is 84 years of age and is blind, if he could get her tea, but she replied " Not now." Her uncle then said he Neuld go downstairs for a few minutes. All this conversation took place in the living room upstairs. Inspector Spinks : This is one of the old landmarks of Warrington. The living room is upstairs. Witness, continuing, said that when the deceased had been away ten minutes she heard a loud report. She ran downstairs, and found that her uncle's head was" resting on his shsulder." His clothes appeared to he on fire She at once sent for a medical man. and Dr. Adams shortly afterwards arrived. Her uncle had never said, to her knowledge, that he was tired of life, James Darrnall, a lahourer,emnloyed at Dill am Forge, and living at 54, Pinners'-hrow, said on Tuesday afternoon, at about teo minutes to five he was standing at his house door when he heard a loud report, and a few minutes afterwards the last witness came up to him screaming. She told him what had occnrred, and witness and his brother went into the cell,r, where they found the deceased sitting on a box with his back against the wall. His clothes on his left side were on fire. They put out the flames, when they saw that blood was flowing from a large wound in Warburton's left breast. He was dead. Two of his fingers were broken infl bleeding. Near to the deceased wits the firearm produced. There was a strong smell of powder in the cellar. Sergeant Smith deposed to finding the deceased as described by the last witness. He had known the deceased for some years ; he was a most inoffensive man. The piece of lead now produced, weighing 21 ounces, had gone right through the body, had struck the wall behind, and lodged in the man's clothes. The weapon must have been held close to the body when fired. Ernest Henry Napper,assistant to Mr. Hugh Greenough, chemist, Horsemarket-st., said the deceased called at the shop on Tuesdly morning at ten o'cleck, and was supplied with some powder. It was sporting powder that was sold to him ; it was a better quality than the powderusually soli. There was nothing in deceased's manner to excite suspicion. The Coroner having addressed the jury, a verdict to the effect that the deceased committed suicide during temporary insanity was returned.