The Darlington & Stockton Telegraph, Richmond Herald, South Durham and North York Review. — 1870-12-17 (Darlington, Durham, England)

SUICIDE AT DARLINGTON. A shockin.g case of suicide—remarkable both for the. singular means resorted to in order to cause death, and the determination manifested by the victim of his own violence to deprive him-, self of life—has just occurred at Darlington. Deceased was a labourer, named John Martin, and has resided lately at Albert Hill. He was a widower, aged 53 years, and his household affairs were left to the care of a daughter, who has recently left him. It is said that her absence had a depressing effect on him, and was the cause of his drinking for the last week very immoderately. On Sunday morning, about eight o'clock, he left home, his son a boy of about 14 years—being then in bed. He returned about one hour afterwards, and went to bed. Shortly afterwards, the boy noticed that his father's right arm was bleeding, and ran for assistance, but before medical aid could be procured the man was dead. A razor covered with blood was found near him, and with this he had doubtless severed the main artery of his arm, and bled to death. It is believed that he had procured some warm water and applied it to the wound, so as to make it bleed more freely.—On Wednesday afternoon an inquest was held at the Allan Arms, Albert before Mr. Dean, deputy-coroner, on the body of deceased.—George Martin, the youngest son of deceased, a boy of about twelve years, stated that his father had been going mad during the whole of last week, and used to jump on the bed and shout out. He was a puddler at the ironworks, and lived at Nestfield Cottage. His wife was dead, and his daughter acted as his housekeeper, bat she left with her husband two or three weeks ago. On Sunday morning, between eight and nine o'clock, deceased went into the house, having been very restless the previous night, and told witness to put his coat and waistcoat off, and get into bed. Deceased then covered him up with the bed clothes, and he went to sleep. His father had his coat off, and his shirt sleeves were tucked up. Witness awoke about ten o'clock, and found that his father had fallen near the edge of the bed. There was blood on his arm, and when he fell on the floor, witness put pillows under his head. He asked for water, and witness gave him some, but he only took a mouthful. He also wished to be lifted to the bed, but witness was not able to do this, and when he tried 'himself.? he lurched against the edge of the bed and died there.— Edward Brown, puddler, who lived near deceased, said he saw deceased on Saturday last, and also on Sunday morning about one o'clock. He was then sober, but was looking very queer. He clasped his hands and said, "Oh dear, what shall I do? My daughter has left me, and my son, Daniel, has not come home yet." Being recommended to go home he went away. About four o'clock he returned, and said he was in great trouble, and having taken a drink of some beer which was on the table, he left the house again'. Witness heard him conversing with some person about eight o'clock, and about ten his son George came and asked him to go to their house. He went and found deceased kneeling by the bedside. His head was resting on the bed, and his arms were folded. There was a pool of blood on the floor which had run underneath the bed. He was quite dead. During the past few weeks deceased had appeared to be unsound in his mind at times, owing to great distress, and had recently asked witness to take care of his children as he would not be long with them.—Thomas Watt, M.D., said: On Sunday morning about eleven o'clock, I was called to see deceased at his house. He was quite dead. I found a clean incised wound on the inside of the right arm, a little above the elbow, which had severed the- main artery. He was quite cold, from the loss of blood. The wound was such as would have been caused by a razor, anti might have been self-inificted, as the artery at that part is almost superficial. Under ordinary circumstances, the loss of blood resulting from such a wound would inevitably cause death. —Police-constable Hodgson found the razor of deceased's on the mantlepiece. It was covered with blood. He was acquainted with deceased, who occasionally got drunk, but was not an excessive drinker.—The jury returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide while in ass unsound state of mind.