Denton & Haughton Weekly News, and Audenshaw, Hooley Hill, and Dukinfield Advertiser. — 1875-08-20 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE WANT OF EDUCATION IN HAUGHTON.  It is our painful duty this week to record one of the most melancholy events that have transpired in this district for a long time. When an old man who has lived beyond the ordinary period of three scoro years and ten puts an end to his life by committing suicide it is a matter to be deeply regretted. No wonder. then, that the case of Clayton should have caused such an amount of excitement and to be the almost continual topic of discourse in the neighbourhood: The deceased who has come to such a melancholy and untimely end was well known in the di,3trict, aud his death has caused quite a sensation in all circles. It appears from the evidence given at the inquest that he was last seen alive on Thursday evening last, when it is supposed that the dreadful act was committed, and yet he was not discovered until Sunday.  THE INQUEST on the body was held at the Angel Inn, Hyde-road, Houghton, on Tuesday afternoon last, before F. Price, Esq., county coroner, and a respectable jury, of whom Mr. William Wood was foreman. After the jurymen had been sworn they retired to view the body. On returning the following evidence was given :  Ralph Harrison said that he was a beerseller, and kept the cottage Inn, on Hyde-road. James Clayton, the deceased, was a house slater, and 7:3 years of age. He occu )iecl a cottage belonging to him (witness) in Springer-fold He was at his house on Thursday last, and saw the deceased during the day. He had very little beer during the day. He came to his house again in the evening, when his dlmgliter served him with beer. He did not know what time the deceased left his house. He had been out of work and ill for a long time, and this might have preyed upon his mind. Assuming that the deceased had committed suicide, he thought it would have been brought on by depression of spirits owing to illness and being out of work.  Mary "Wilde said she was the husband of George Wilde, of Springer. fold, Haughton. Her husband was a hatter. She knew deceased very well. She had not noticed any change in him lately. She saw him between eight and nine o'clock on Thursday night he came out of Harrison's-and she had a little conversation with him about the weather, and bid him good night. He walked steady, and seemed sober. After binding her good night, he unlocked his door and went in, locking it after him. This was the last time she saw him alive. Her suspicious were aroused on Sunday morning. One of the neighbours asked her if she had seen him since Thursday, and her suspicious were then aroused. Ultimately Thomas Booth made an entrance into his house with her key, between two and three in the afternoon. He had aken his key out of the door, and it was on the table when they went in. She went into the house but not upstairs. Booth went upstairs, and whoa he came down he said deceased had cut his throat. She did not then go to see him. A const tble was afterwards sent for. Shc knew nothing about the razor. Thomas Booth was next called, and said he lived at Springer-fold, Haughton, and was a hatter. On Sunday afternoon last he took Mrs Wilde's key and unlocked James Clayton's door with it. He found him upstairs on the bed with his feet on the floor. He was lying on his back. He could see his throat was cut, and there was a great quantity of blood on +he bed and on the fluor. He went down and told what he had seen, aud • -er-' men •