Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1894-03-17 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

THE INQUEST.  The inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of the above was held at the Thornhill Arms, Rastrick, on Wednesday forenoon, before Mr. Wm. Barstow (district coroner) and the following jury— Messrs. G. E. H. Bradbury (foreman). H. Ibbetson, S. Collins, P. Williams, C. Carter, J. Kitchen, F. Wbatmough, J. Bottomley, W. Jessop, T. Scaife' M. Taylor and J. H. Berry. Sergeant Copping and P.C. Souttern were also present, The jury procoeled to view the body and were afterwards sworn, the firs' witness being TIM/CU nORSFALL, fishmonger, Oxford-Ft root, Brighouse, who stated that John Edward Horsfall was his brother, and was 41 years of age. He resided by himself in Ogden-lane. and was employed as a grave digger at Hamrick Cemetery. He was never married. Witness last saw him alive about a month ago. He seemed in his usual health an i spirits. GEORGE HENRY E &STWOOD, registrar, Cemetery Lodge, Rastriok, said that Horsfall had been employed at the cemetery, as crave digger for about 10 years, off ani on, up to Feburary 13, on which day Le worked 3 ; hours. He left work of his own accord, and on tile 15th witness met him in the strait and paid him off, On Cie 27th, Horatall came and asked for employment, and witness frld him that he bad got another man in his place. He seemed then in his usual health and spirits. In answer to the coroner, WITNESS said that be thought it was horse racing that kept Horsfall away from work. Waco to!‘i that he was discharged, be used no tr.reits as to coutmitting suicide. :de btayel at the cemetery several hours. lie had worked when he liked and stopped away the same. He had seen Horsfall drunk several times. Witness had got tired of him; that was the reason he discharged him.  NOBLE ISTONEY, mason, 'foothill Bank, Rastriek, stated tl.at he saw Hort,fall about balf•past six on Monday evening, the 26th Febuary, at Bottom of the Town going tow-true home, Witness said Well John' and he replied' How go.' Stoney then said 'How art tha' going on' and he said ` All right.' He had not heard of anybody seeing him after he saw him.  THOMAS EDMUND4ON, farm labourer. Junction Inn, stated that at 1-20 on Tues lay afternoon last he looked through Horefail's house window and saw deceasA hanging, raise,' an alarm, sent for the policeman. P.C. ;,outhern came and gained admission to the nous° and cut the body down. Horsfall appeared in his usual health last time witness saw him.  WILLIAM HENRY SOUTIIERN, West-riding police constable stationed at lt tstrick, said that on Mei lay last, at 1 30 p.m., he received information that Horefall had hung himself. and be proceeded to the plane. When he got to the housl he found the door looked ; he got a key and opened the door, and found the body of tiorafall suspended from the cupboard by a strap and a piece of string atfacted to a red cotton handkerchief and a scarf. The body was in a standing position, the knees being slightly bent. He out the body down, which appeared to have been dead some time, being very much decomposed. On searching the body he found a copy of a sporting journal of February 24th. Horsfall was a low spirited man and was much addicted to drink. 'The CORONER thought that he had committed suicide by hanging, but there was no evidence to prove the state of his mind at the time. The jury concurred, and a verdict to that effect was returned,