Swansea Journal and South Wales Liberal. — 1895-12-14 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

MAN CUTS HIS THROAT AT LLANSAMLET,  A. man named Rice Jones as been discovered dead in a field at Birchgrove,. Liar's=let, with his throat cut from ear to ear, and a razor lying by his side. He was a native of the place, and had been working as a labourer for some time as Mardy, near Pontypridd, but returned to Birchgrove owing to slackness of work. He was much depressed at being out of employ. He left his home on Saturday morning about eight o'clock, and later on a letter was found in the house, which deceased had written in Welsh, bidding them a pathetic farewell. Alarm was caused, and the gravest fear arose in the minds of his family. The neighbours, on being apprised that he was missing, organised a search party, his lifeless form being discovered, as above stated, by a man named William Allen. Jones was 45 yeais of age, and leaves a widow and family mostly grown up.  The act must have been committed between six o'clock on Saturday night, when he was last met and spoke to by Martha Lewis, of Birchgrove, and tour o'clock on Sunday afternoon, when the body was found in the held at Birchgrove. It was a most determined act of self-destruction, for the throat was cut from ear to ear, and a sharp knife with which the deed had been done lay at the side of the body. Drs. Jones and Jenkins were called, and said the man must have been dead many hours. P.O. Wm. Winnes, from the police station at Glais, was soon on the spot, and assisted in the removal of the body. Inquest on the Body of the Deceased.  The inquest on the body of Rice Jones, of Cwin Glyn Cottage, a general labourer, 45 years of age, who committed suicide a few days ago, was held at the Crown Inn, Birchgrove, before Mr. Talfourd Strick, deputy coroner, on Tuesday afternoon. The evidence went to show that the unfortunate man had worked at the Mardy Colliery about six weeks ago, since which time lie had only put in two days' work, he being unable to find employment. On Saturday morning last he took his son's breakfast to him at the Birchgrove Colliery. Deceased, though not seen again alive by his son, was seen by a neighbour, named Martha Lewis, the same evening. He was then standing on the road near his house, and this witness asked, "How are you, Rice, this evening?" Jones only mumbled something which she could not understand in reply, and then walked away.— William' Allen, as one of the search party who were looking for the deceased, gave evidence of finding the body in a field at Dirchgrove on Sunday morning. Deceased's throat was cut, and a razor lay on the ground at his side.— Dr. Jones, of Clydach, said the deceased came to his surgery last Wednesday, and complained (if digestive trouble, and appeared very despondent. Witness prescribed for him. Witness had examined the body and found a large wound in the throat, such as would cause death almost instantaneously, and one which might have been self-inflicted by a razor with the right hand.—Other evidence showed that deceased left a letter addressed, "My dear children and wife," in which lie wrote: "I am writing you these lines for the last time," and then lie bade the family farewell.—A verdict of suicide whilst temporarily insane was returned.  A gentleman, who came down from London on Saturday last to succeed Mr. Sayers in the stewardship of the Salisbury Club, Swansea,_ had a startling experience at the Mumbles on Monday. He had only taken over the duties of the position at the club on Saturday, and as the post did not suit him, or he the post, on Sunday evening the House Committee were hurriedly called together, and he was required to resign. That was a fairly rum experience, but it wa.f not the only unpleasant episode that marred the visit to Swansea. On Monday, he was walking along the cliffs at Bracelet, when by some means or other he slipped his foot and he fell over the precipice.. Fortunately the tide was at the flood, or he would have Leen :Wiled to pieces. Indeed, the wonder now is that he was not killed. Happily, someone Fa w him fall and brought him out of the water—and he was taken to the Ship and Castle Hotel, where he was put to bed. Strangely enough, he gust tined scarcely any injuries, and was able to leave the hotel on Tuesday morning.  News reached Newport on Thursday that ,Tames Irvine, of 40, William-street, Newport, engineer board a steamer, had been drowned in the river Hooghly, at Calcutta.  -