Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1884-10-18 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

TWO REMARKABLE SUICIDES.  Mr. Coliyer, deputy coroner, has held an inquiry at the Bridport Arms, Bridport-place, London, relative to the death of Edward Stevens, 26, a compositor in the employ of Maws. Eyre and Spottiswoode. Es-Menne was given showing that the deemed opuned a window and got on to the roof of his house, ' , Gopeall-street,ald was seen,with mmething in his hand, falling on the iron railings of the area, the iron spikes of which mused fearful injuries, resulting in almost instintaneous death. litre Stevens mated that her husband had been at home 11l fort fortnight, and that he cony:l:tined of pains in the head and back. Ile was also under delusions, and fancied that he was being watched On the morning of his death he wrote a letter in Inland about tniOay sent witness with their ouly child to the dispensary for medicine. When she returned she was informed of his death. She had never heard him threaten to commit micide she knew that his mother died iOOO asylum. The coroner read the letter written by the deceased, and addressed to the vicar 01St Savioar's, Heaton. It aas headed "The last words of a miserable :inner," and the writer said his life had been a cove to him; his parents had been drunkards, and for fourteen years he had lived in n miserable, wretched home Through the agency of a false friend he lurned to sin, which had ruined his life at the age of 26. Unmarried a true and loving wife, but still he felt discontinted, and he never knew the terrible ecnsequences of his sin until he had hear I a lecture on the sub not. The agony of mind he had angered for the last two ymrs wan more than he could bear. A brother-in-law of the deceased, Mr.S. Colley, who was called, said Stevens had always a peculiar way, and was a very emotiosal man. Hr believed that the references contained in the letter were purely delusions I encased wan,, ntlectionsite husband. For some months past witness had understood that he (Stevens) had found his work oar compositor too heavy for him. He was doing Parliamentary and foreign work. On the Sunday prior to his death he attended a lecture. Witness consider, I his brothevialaw a man of Insts then ordinary strength of mind, but not of weak mind. The medical man who wee called to the deceased was here asked by the coroner if he had any reason to suspect thst Stevens had taken poison, and the doctor replied that the pupils of the eyes were dilated as in cases of poisoning by prusnio acid, and pieces of glass had been found in the area. Generally fracture of the skull and concussion of the brain led to the contraction of the pupils. The coroner, however, decided that medical es idence was unnecessary, the came of death being clear. Mrs. Stevens, recalled, esplained that her hunland had bought a graduated medicine gius, pieces of which were picked up in the area. 'the coroner was of opinion that though he had a medicine glass hi his hand this was no proof that Stevens hsd taken poison The jury retsmed a verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind.'  On Saturday evening Mr. E. A. Carttar, West Kent coroner, held an in mest at the Freemasons' Railway Hotel, Ladywell, I endow on the body of Walter Thomas Davis Sayer., aged forty-four, a bookmaher, residing at 11, Stonebridge.villaa, Lewisham, who was found drowned in the river Rarensbourne. in front of his house. The widow, Annie Sayers, identified the body. l'er husband had been unwel for some time, and had complained of his head. On the 'I holiday night he retired to rest at eleven o'clock, and was then in his usual health, though he said he had a headache. About half. post four in the morning witness missed him from the bed. She went downstairs, but could not find him, and as the front door was open she awoke her landlady, Mrs. Jones, who advised her to go for a policeman. She went and found one, and having given information at the police. station, she returned to the house. About sin o'clock she saw something denting in the river opposite the house, and railed Mre. Jones's attention to it. She said "Oh, that's only a drowned dog," hut witness said, "('omen d and on going nearer she found it was the body of her husband. Beforegoing to had on Thursday night the deceased kimed the chil been, and said, "1 hare been a good father to you." The jury, after hearing other evidence, unhesitatingly returned the verdict" That deceased committed suicide by drowning in the River Ravenabourne, heat the time labouring under temporary mental derangement"