The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-06-20 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

JUNE 20 1889 , 9 /A YARD! 7 WOOD. THE SELF-MyHATADA. CASE AT,  REMARKABLE STA* MAtlig, Mr. B. Weekes (deputy ooroner) field an Cnclu at Moor-street, on Tuesday afternoon, upon the body of John Dunster (5'2), stonemason; of Hall Green, Yardley, who died in the Queen's gespital• last week from injuries self-inflicted. Sarah Dunster said that she had been sep*afed from her husband for four years, having becir compelled to leave him on account of his brutality. He had also threatened to take her life. She was housekeeper at t4e Dog and Partridge public. house, Hall Green, mid on Friday, the 7th inst., the deceased came there, had tea, and drank five glasses of whisky. She did not speak to him. David Simmonds said that 'early on Sunday, the 9th inst., he saw deceased on his hands and knees in a field at Hall Green. He was behaving in a carious manner, but witness thought he was drunk. He subsequently saw deceased again, and, as he was groaning, went to him. Witness found that dececused'e throat wae cut, and called a police constable. Police-constable Picktharne, who is statinned at Yardley Wood, said that he had his attention I called to deceased, who was in a field in Itk,bin Hood-lane. His throat was cut, and by hint witness found a knife. He conveyed deceased to the Queen's Hospital, and watched him several days. On Monday witness asked him whet prompted him to commit the act, and deceased answered,. "I must be mad. It is- through ivy wife and my so s that I did it." Hi) subsequently said that he cut his throat first.  Police-constable Irons, stationed at Itall Green, said that he received a letter on the Sunday from deceased.  The letter, which was read by the Coroner, was as follows  "Dear sir,—Just a line to inform you that I feel quite broken down. I feel sicief weary, worn-out, and broken-hearted. My head is very bad. I have no one tcrlook at me with a smile of kindness therefore I anvtired of my life, and prefer death before the workhouse. By the time you get this, all will be over. You will find ray body in one of the fields between the boathouse and the Dog Gate. Tell the .urymen I feel sane, but killed, murdered, b'okeri-hearted, through a cruel, deceitful, base woman. My clothes are at Tom Ilands's ; give them to him, as he has been very kind to me since I have been ill. —Vows, Harry Danaher."  Another letter wee received by Hands; but only had reference to the clothes of deceased, which were left there by him. Witness went on to say that on therSsturday night deceased had a eonversation with him. He told witness that he had been robbed of £lOO by his son, who had removed it, together with smaller sums. He also complained that hie wife had robbed him. •  Mrs. Minster, recalfed, denied that she, or her son had ever robbed deceased. After she had left him her mother died and left her some money, and deceased had frequently wanted to live with her again. Frederieir Llewellyn, a juryman, who was sworn, -'aid that he.had known the deceased some gears .go. He was then of very drunken habits, and ; :equently quarrelled with his wife. He had been :nown to take a bottle of brandy to bed with him, And to create a disturbance if he could not get it. The wife haelLhad to see to the business many a daturday night whilst deceased went off drinking. Mr. Houstem house surgeon at the Queens Hospital, said' that when deceased was received there he WWI' suffering from a wound 41 inches. , long in his throat. There were two superficial wounds on hiVarrists. When he was being putts I hed the porter discovered that deceased had inflicted terrible injuries on himself in the region t, -I his abdomen. He had apparently tried to rip. ! 41mself up. EBe died on the 14th from pneumonia. she result of the matter from the wound in the. thioat being inhaled into the iungs. The Deputy-Coroner, in summing up, said that the jury had to consider whether deceased was his right mind when he committed the rash act. was a fortunate thing the juryman had beetn ,ble to give evidence about the wife, who would'. ,therwise have remained under the aspersions. inede by the deceased. The jury returned a verdict. of "Suicide whilst temporarily insane,." and exonerated the wife from. all blame.