Widnes Examiner. — 1894-06-23 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

SHOCKING SUICIDE AT WARRINGTON.  A filecutter, named William Ball, 48 years of age, of 22, Manchester-road, pointed a pistol at his right temple, and shot himself dead,on Tuesday morning, Mr. F. A. Jones, deputy county coroner held an inquest in the Parade Room, on Wednesday afternoon touching the death of the deceased. Mary Bali was the first witness called, and said the deceased was her husband. He had been drinking heavily since lie had the influenza at Christmas. Dr. McCarthy had been attending him, for the last three months for a weak heart. The deceased became very low spirited, mad threatened to take his own life, and witness's also. She became afraid of him, and left him the ,previous Saturday. He had often abused her. Latterly, whenever he took any drink, he became very strange in his talk and manner. She did not see the deceased alive again after she left him. The reason she did not inform the polic of the deceased's conduct was that she thought that it was a pity to get him sent to prison when he couldn't help it. It was only when he was in drink that he illused her, and he always expressed his sorrow when he was sober. In answer to Inspector Spinks, witness said she had never seen the pistol, produced before. Elizabeth Ann Ball, daughter of the deceased stated that her father returned to the house about eleven o'clock in the morning. He was strange in his manner. He shook hands with witness, and took the baby upon his knee, 1 and kissed it, saying "God bless you, that is the last time I shall kiss you alive." He said he was going to cut his throat, and "did not know whether to do the baby or not." Witness snatched the baby from II him, and hid the knives in a drawer. She went out to ' I inform the police and took the baby with her. When she had got about twenty yards from the house, she heard the report of a pistol. She met Sergeant Chantler and told him. Witness did not go back to the house for some time.—Wm. Henry Ball, son of the deceased said he went home for his dinner about a quarter past twelve on Tuesday. From what he was told by some neighbours he went upstairs to his father's bedroom and lound him lying on his back in the room. There was a pistol in his right hand which witness took from him. His father was alive, and witness did not know that deceased had injured himself until he saw a swelling on the right temple. Deceased died a few hours afterwards. Mr. Aukland, relieving officer, said the deceased was ill about Christmas, and received parish relief. He saw him between 11-15 and 11-30 on Tuesday morning. Deceased then seemed quite rational, and when they passed deceased said "good morning " to him. Deceased did not seem to have had any drink. He shot himself about ten minutes after seeing witness. About an hour al terwards witness visited the house. The deceased was then not quite dead but was unconscious. Dr. McCarthy attended the deceased but there was no hope whatever of his recovery. He died about 230. Inspector Spinks said two reports were heard, but there was only one mark on the deceased's face.— The Coroner said it was a very sad case indeed. It was quite clear that the deceased took away his own life. The only question was whether the jury thought the deceased was of sound mind when he took away his life, or whether they considered he was of unsound mind at the time. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide whilst of unsound mind.