The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1879-05-03 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

TERRIBLE SUICIDE IN COVENTEY. About half-past nine o'clock on Sunday morning last the inhabitants of Upper Well-street and its vicinity were aroused from their usual quietude by the sudden report of firearms. On enquiries being made it was found that a young man, named Samuel Ludford, had committed suicide in a most shocking manner. As may be imagined the sad news spread with lightning rapidity, and hundreds of people were quickly on the spot. From information obtained, pending the inquest, it appears that the deceased, who is 18 years of age, some few years ago met with a very serious accident whilst employed at Messrs. Smith and Starley's sewing machine and bicycle manufactory, St. Agnes-lane, injuring his arm and leg to such an extent that it was found necessary at the time to amputate the injured arm. This of course deprived him of the means of following any occupation requiring much bodily exertion, and he has since been engaged as a telegraph messenger, and in other light duties. By a strange yet sad coincidence it appears that some few years ago an elder brother of deceased whilst out shocting with some other youths was accidently shot, which resulted in the unfortunate youth being sent to an early grave. The deceased lived with his father-in-law, Mr. Thomas Atkins, who is landlord of the lolly Sailor Inn, Upper Well-street, Coventry. He came home on Saturday evening between 11 and 12 o'clock, apparently the same as usual, nothing in his outward conduct loading his friends to suppose that he contemplated committing the sad act. A young man named John Boazmau, who lodged at the same house occupied the bed with the deceased. They retired about 12 o'clock, and nothing unusual was noticed by the young man during the night. The deceased asked Boazman on several occasions towards morning if he was going to get up. He did not, however get up till about half-past nine, the deceased being at that time the same as usual. The rest Ohhe household were astir some time previously, when all at once they were startled by the loud report of firearms. The deceased occupied a room fronting the street, and the other members of the family were at the time in the back part of the house, consequently the report was not heard so distincty as it would have been had they been in the front. The father- in - law, Mr. Thomas Atkins, imagining that a barrel of beer had burst, or that a nectar bottle had broken, proceeded at once to the cellar, where he found that such was not the case. Pursuing his search further as to the cause of the sudden report, he proceeded upstairs, and ion entering the room occupied by deceased a horrible sight met his vier. The unfortunate young man lay with his face downwards on the bed, with a frightful wound in the left temple, from which the blood was flowing in a rapid stream. Feeling that he could do nothing in the matter, lie immediately went for Dr. Edgar Overton, -who was quickly on the spot. In the meantime a policeman had been brought, who was followed by the arrival of three more. On an examination of the deceased, the medical gentleman pronounced life to be extinct, in fact death must have been almost instantaneous. The utmost excitement prevailed in the neighbourhood, as the deceased was well-known and highly respected, and hal resided in the vicinity from his infancy. No cause at present can be assigned for the terrible act