The Slaithwaite Guardian and Colne Valley News. — 1898-02-18 (Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, England)

DROWNED IN A TROUGH.  A DETERMINED SUICIDE.  A case of determined suicide was brough to light on Tuesday morning, when it was reported to the police that Thomas France, a scrappier by trade, had been found drowned in a trough close to his house at Wood Nook. The circumstances of the case pointed to deliberate suicide. It appears that the deceased some time ago had a paralytic stroke, the effect of which prostrated him. He was ordered to bed by his doctor, Dr. E. Dean, and gradually grew worse. The thought of being unable to follow his employment seems to have bothered him, and he had also got it into his head that he would never .recover. This trouble took hold of his mind to such an extent that it began to give way. He became more and more eccentric, and finally his brother-in law, Joseph Balmforth, was asked to watch him at nights, and a clo,e watch over him was kept during the daytime. Deceased had made several attempts at self-destruction, but his efforts had always been thwarted. On the night of Monday, Balmforth as usual stayed up with him. About four o'clock, Balmforth fell asleep, and when he awoke he found the bal empty A search was then made with the result that the dead body of deceased was found in a water trough about twenty yards from the house. The District Coroner (Mr. W. Barstow) was notified, and he held an inquest at the Town Hall, Slaithwaite, on Thursday afternoon. Mr. W. Sykes was appointed foreman of the jury.—Jane France, wife of deceased was the first witness called, and said her husband was 53 years of age. All the time she gave evidence she appeared much distressed and deeply affected. He had a stroke about fourteen months ago, but only became strange in his mind about a month since. She last saw him alive on Tuesday morning at two o'clock, when she retired to rest after having stayed up watching him along with Bamforth until that hour. Balmforth had been sitting up with the deceased since the time the latter commenced being queer. By Sergeant Haynes: She knew deceased's father. He had been in the asylum from which place they brought him home, but he only survived a fortnight.— Joseph Balmforth, the brother-in-law, next  gave evidence. He corroborated the above statement, and described how going to the bedside, and thinking France was asleep, as he had on previous occasions gone to sleep, lie got a paper and commenced reading. He read until four o'clock. France still appeared to be asleep, and witness put down his spectacles and placed his feet on the fender and took a nap. Shortly after he awoke and found his charge had flown. Ho then went into the kitchen. Deceased had left the door ajar, and the wind blew out the candle witness had in his hand. He looked in the coal place, and going next door tapped at the window and aroused the occupants. The brother dressed himself, and eventually they found deceased in the trough mentioned. All this happened between four o'clock, the time witness fell asleep, and 4-30. The trough was 31t. yin. long, at. Sin. wide, and sin. deep. Witness stated that when found deceased's head was out of the water but it was quite wet, and he had only his shirt and flannels on. He was quite warm, and was laid on his back in the trough with his right arm on one side. Witness said he accounted for deceased lying on his back through the death struggles, and recited the many attempts deceased had made to commit suicide, being irritated through having lost his speech. —The Coroner: There is no doubt he had been out of his mind.—Witness : Of course he has, and he would have been in Wadsley now but for his mother.—Witness stated there were two bruises on deceased, caused, no doubt, by throwing himself into the trough.—A verdict of suicide by drowning, whilst in an unsound state of mind, was returned.