The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1880-01-17 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SHOCKING SUICIDE AT HENDON.  An inquest was held by Dr. Hardwicke on Tuesday, at the Midland Hotel, Hendon, concerning the death of William Sibley, 81 years of age, of Burnt Oak, Edgware, whose body was found in the Brent River on Saturday morning under circumstances which at first led to the impression that a murder had been committed under peculiarly horrible circumstances, as it was found the lower part of the abdomen bad been cut away. The Jury, however, it will be seen, returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide while of unsound mind.—The following is the report of the inquest taken from The Times :  George Sibley, son of the deceased, said he lived at home with his father, who was a wheelwright. He had been ill since Christmas from gout and rheumatism. When the witness awoke on Saturday morning, about half-past eight, he missed his father, but thought that he had gone into another room to light a fire. In half an hour the witness got up, and then found that his father was not in the house. The back door was unlocked, showing that he had gone out that way. Shortly afterwards Mr. Harris, a neighbour, came in, and told him that his father had been murdered and thrown into the river. The witness went to the "Midland" Hotel, Hendon, and saw the body of his father, On Friday the decased complained of having severe pains in his stomach. When he had the goat he was very low-spirited. David Dangerfield, carrier, of Red Lion-yard, Kilburn, said on Saturday morning he was passing over Silk-bridge, Hendon' in a cart. He noticed a body floating in the river Brent. He procured a rope, threw it round the body, and dragged it to shore. He then noticed that the lower portion of the body was mutilated. After waiting for some time a police-constable arrived, who took charge of the body. Dr. Andrews, of Hendon, said on Saturday morning, at nine o'clock, he was called to the Silk-bridge, Hendon, and on the bank he saw the body of the deceased. The flannel shirt was cut in four or five places, and upon further examination he found that the lower portion of the abdomen was mutilated, There was an abrasion on the forehead and nose. He had since made a post-mortem examination of the body, assisted by Dr. Bond. The parts which had been cut away were found on Sunday and shown to him. The knife produced was shown to him, and he found that there was blood upon it. He believed that the injuries could be produced by such a knife, In his opinion, loss of blood in the first place and suffocation by drowning in the second caused death. _ _  Inspector William Goldsmith, stationed at Hendon, said that on Sunday morning he made a search for the missing parts of the body, and by a hedge 76 feet away from the bridge he found a hat and one portion of the body, and about 10 feet further on another portion of the body and the knife produced. A policeman found a third portion of the body 100 f t. away from the bridge. There was some blood stains on the centre of the bridge. Mary Ann Halsey, a daughter of the deceased, said she saw her father on Friday, and did not notice then that he was in a low and desponding state of mind. During the day she saw him bring an oilstone indoors, but she did not know if it was used for sharpening the knife produced, which was similar to some dessert knives which her father had. She did not believe that he committed suicide, as he always said that he had a great horror of such a thing. He was not on bad terms with any one. Thomas Harris, a blacksmith, said the deceased had complained of his head aching so much that it nearly distracted him. A week ago he made use of the expression "that he should be the next to go." Dr. Frederick Earl, of Edgware, said he believed that of late the deceased had been in bad health, and his mind seemed affected. Dr. Thomas Bond, of Westminster Hospital, and police surgeon to the Metropolitan Police, said he was sent by the Criminal Investigator to inquire into this case, and was present at the examination made by Dr. Andrews. He fully agreed with his evidence. He was of opinion that the mutilation was selfinflicted, and that the deceased afterwards walked to the bridge and, clambering over, threw himself into the water.  The jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide while of unsound mind.