The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1913-05-07 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

INQUEST PROCEEDI.NGS.  - The mystery was cleared up yesterday, when Mr. J. C. Bate, the West Cheshire Coroner, held an inquest on the body at the Bidston reading-room. This room ie a very small one, and the rain was beating relentlessly upon the windows outside. Inside, twelve jurymen at round a table listening to the evidence, whilst the wife of the unfortunate man wept piteously behind. It was a depressing sight, and the torrential downpour of rain, and tilb darkness, added to the depression. The body proved .to be that of John Millington, aged 52;df 58, Berner-street, Birkenhead, who had,' up to September last, been a shunter in the employ of the Cheshire Lines Rail-way. The Coroner, in addressing the jury, said that on Monday afternoon, shortly after three o'clock, Keeper Archibald Robertson was in the West Wood when he discovered a man lying face, .downwards in the bracken. His throat was badly cut. and be /was dead. The body was removed to the Bidston mortuary, where it was later identified. Some months ago the deceased met with an accident, and as a result four of his toes were amputated at the Borough Hospital. He was In the institution for two months, and had not been working since. Lately he had .been very depressed in consequence of :the Injury, and was afraid he would never Obtain employment again. He left home on Monday morning, and no intimation was given to anyone that he intended to commit suicide.  The first witness called was Mrs. Mary Ann Millington, and She stated that she was the wife of the deceased. He met with an accident. last .oeptember; and he was in the hospithl .for -two months. He had been at home ever since. When walking he used crutches,: but had latterly discarded them for sticks. He had been very low-spirited, and theight his foot was not getting. better. -Dit tivece, however, had told him that was .Verg much better.. and was getting- oA niosE. On -Monday morning he went out for a, 'walk at about half-past eleven, but 'did not return. He had never threatened tO.take his life, 'but had been very much .depressed. Archibald Robertson, .87, Thornton-street, Birkenhead, a "keeper ~on •Bldston stated •that - at 3.1.5 olealondaY- he 'wit's on duty in :the West Wdod,—when ..he came across the body of the deceased lying face downwards in the bracken.. He was quite dead, and his throat was badly cut. Witness had:seen the man about a quarter of an hour previously -sitting on a seat 18 yards from where he was found. There was a alight pool of 'blood near the seat, and witness noticed that deceased was smoking a pipe. He assisted in the removal of the body' to,the mortuary. Police-constable eycherly etated that he received informatiron Cof the discovery from Robertson, and at once proceeded to the spot and saw the-body. Deceased was clasping a razor very tightly in his. left hand,. and there was a pool of blood near the seat a few yards away. Witness had made inqairiee at the Borteigh,.Hospital, and had . _ asce  rtained that the deceased had been in the institution in September last suffering from an injured foot.. The injuries to the throat were very severe. This concluded the. evidence, and The Coroner, in summing up, said that when the deceased left- home he was apparently in his usual state or mind. He had taken the razor With him, so tbat he must have contemplated doing something with it. There was, however, no evidence to show the state of the man's mind.  The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide," and added that there. was insufficient evidence' to show the state of the deceased's mind.