The Blackpool Herald. — 1883-12-28 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

SUICIDE BY HANGING AT BLACKPOOL.  On Christmas Day, the wife of Robert Stewart, 6 Swainson-street, Blackpool, committed suicide by hanging herself. Particulars of the sad occurrence will be gleaned from the evidence given at the inquest, which was held at the King's Arms Hotel, Talbot-road, before W. Gilbertson; Esq., district coroner, on Wednesday afternoon. Robert Stewart, husband of deceased, said he was agent for the Blackpool Coal Company. Deceased was his wife, and was in her 61st year. He last saw her alive about ten minutes to eleven o'clock on Tuesday morning when she assisted him with his coat on, she appeared to be in her usual state of health. He went to the Union Chapel and when he returned at noon he fonnd the door locked. A little girl (his niece) who lived with them, was standing at the door, and said her auntie had sent her to Thomas Royle's a little while after she (the girl) had returned from accompanying him to chapel. He then sent the to see it deceased had been to any of her neiglibours houses, including that of Mr. Maxwell and Mr. Haigh, but said she had not. He then went and saw Mr. Haigh, who returned with him for the purpose of assisting him to effect an entrance. When they returned, however, they found that a neighbour had unfastened the yard door and had found that the kitchen door was loose. Mrs. Tetlow, a lady whom he had had in the house since the previous Wednesday, and who had been with him to chapel was the first to get into the house, but on looking into the kitchen had run away, evidently afraid to go in. Mr. Haigh and Mr. Maxwell were the next to go, and the former beckoned to him (witness) to go round by the front door. By a side glance he saw his wife as she was being carried away, but he was unable to look at her. She had been of a rather desponding state of health for the last fortnight or three weeks, but nothing to alarm him. Last year he had to send her to Lancaster on account of the condition of her mind, but she was discharged on the 4th of June of the same year. She had since remarked that she had been unjustly sent. Her mania took a religious form. She was very cheerful on Tuesday morning, and had been speaking about inviting her friends to tea. !She had also passed a better night than during the past three weeks, during which time she did. not sleep much _ _  _ Ruth Tetlow said she had been staying with Mrs Stewart since last Wednesday, during which time she was not so bad as formerly. She was better in the morning when they went to church. On re. turning home, the door had been opened, and she (witness) went into the kitchen where she found deceased hanging from two hooks in the ceiling. Richard Haigh said that at Mr. Stewart's request he went with him to his house at about noon. Witness went into the kitchen and then found deceased hanging by the neck from two hooks in the ceiling. The rope was in the shape of a swing, and standing on a buffet deceased bad wrapt it twice round her neck. Her feet were just touching the ground, and the stool was upset at her 'ieels. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that de. ceased committed suicide whils in an unsound state of mind.