Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1883-08-25 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

MILL MANAGER AT BATLEY CARE. Mr. Maurice Kilburn, manager of the extensive woollen manufactory of Messrs. Newsome Victoria Mills, Batley Carr, committed suicide on Tuesday morning by drowning. The deceased gentleman was seen by a boy walking near to Broadhead's and then to suddenly cast himself into the water. The lad, horrorstruck, gave an alarm, and some people came, but nearly an hour elapsed before the body was recovered. The deceased was well known all over the district, and, as may be supposed, his death created a great sensation, especially at Batley Carr. The remains were conveyed to the Clothiers' Arms Inn, Bradford Road and information sent to the police office. In the meantime deceased's family bad got to know of the shocking event., and their grief was distressing to witness. Much sympathy is felt for Mrs. Kilburn and her numerous children. Mr. Kilburn was a Churchman in religion, and in politics an ardent Conservative, and he took a leading part in establishing a club at Batley Carr. He was also a member of the Board of Management of the Duesbury and District General Infirmary, and of other public) bodies. He was about fifty years of age, and much respecting by men of all parties. No motive is assigned for the rash aot of the deceased gentleman,—An inquest was held on Wednesday at the Clothiers' Arms Inn, Batley Carr. Witnesses proved finding the body, and others spoke to his state of mind, and it transpired that recently deceased exhibited symptons of undoubted abberation ef intellect. He had gone to Leeds and to Wakefield on purposeless errands, and had been very eccentric in his manner and speech. He had also complained of severe pains in his b3ad.—The jury found a verdict to the effect that deceased had committed suicide whilst of unsound mind,  SUICIDE AT THE HALIFAX WORKHOUSE —On Tuesday evening an inquest was held at the Workhouse, Halifax, before Mr. Barstow, coroner, touching the death of George Bairstow, of Fowerby Bridge, who died from self-inflicted injuries, in the Workhouse, on Monday.—Mr. J. W. Longbottom, clerk to the Guardians, was present.—The first witness called was Ann Wildsmith, widow, residing at Beech, Sowerby Bridge, who said the deceased lodged at her house, and was forty-three years of age. He was employed as machine turner at Messrs. Pollitt & Wigsell's, Sowerby Bridge. He had lodged at witness's house since his wife, who is at present in an asylum, became insane three years ago. Deceased went to visit his wife at the Wakefield Lunatic) Asylum last Whitsuntide, and it quite upset him. He had not been himself since, and had only worked about three weeks. On Friday morning last he attempted to drown himself in the canal, and Dr. Brown ordered his removal to the Workhouse. Deceased had been a very steady man.—Sarah Annie Cox, nurse at the Workhouse, said deceased was brought to the house by Mr, B. Walker between three and four p.m. on the 17th Inst. He was placed in the small ward, in which were six other patients. He conducted himself quietly and sensibly. He was all right when witness left him at eight p.m. on Sunday.—John Spencer, a pauper, said he and a pauper named Booth had charge of deceased in the house. Deceased went to bed shortly after eight on Sunday night. He awoke shortly before five on Monday morning, and soon after Booth went his rounds as watchman. Witness turned aside towards another inmate, and directly afterwards his attention was called to deceased, who was bleeding from the throat. Witness did not leave the room. The knives were kept in a case under witness's bed. The one with which deceased committed the act was taken between noon on Sunday and Monday morning.—Mr. Thomas M. Dolan, medical officer to the Union, said he saw deceased on Friday, and he talked sensibly, but said he was depressed. He said he did not want to go to the asylum, and witness agreed to let him stay in the house a couple of days, Witness was sent for on Monday morning, and arrived at 15-50. He found that the man had severed both jugular veins.—By a Juror : lie was not thought to be a dangerous character.—A Juror complained that the knife-drawer was not locked up.—Witness: All the men in the house nearly have pocket-knives.—lt is not a prison; you can't take them away from them. The Coroner: But this man was not an ordinary pauper.—Witness: I doubt if we have power to take a knife from them.—The Coroner: Oh, but you have power to search them.—Mr. Longbottom concurred in this.—The jury found that deceased committed suicide whilst in an unsound state of mind.