Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1876-07-15 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SUICIDE BY HANGING AT MIDDLESBROUGH.  Another suicide has occurred at Middlesbrough, the viciim of self-destruction being a man of 54 years of age, named William Johnson, of 75, Johnsonstreet. About 12-15 a.m. on Sunday, the deceased was found byja son named,Thomas swpende from the baluster, at the,top of the stairs of his house, by a rope tightly fastened round the neck. The body was cut down, nut life was found to be extinct. Deceased had been drinking heavily previous to his suicide.—An inquest was held at the Princess Alice Hotel, on Monday morning, by Mr Dent, deputy coroner, touching the death of the deceased.—Thomas Johnson, saddler, Johnson. street, deposed that the deceased was a huckster. He hal been drinking very mach lately. Had not noticed anything queer about biBmanner,and did not know that he had been in a low state of mind. On Saturday night last, about 10.30, witness went to bed andlett deceased:and his (witness's) motherflownstairs. The latter was sober. About 12 o'clock he heard a noise, and got up and opened his bedroom door. He then saw his father hanging in the staircase, suspended from the baluster by a piece of rope. Witness's mother left the house. Called in a neighbour. His father and mother often quarrelled, and she had often left the house.-Mary A. Wiight spoke to having been called in to deceased's house by last witness. She gave the alarm on seeing deceased's position. Deceased had been in rather emtarrasssd eircumstances, and had drunk heavily since he came to reside in Johnson-street.—Esther Johnson, wife of deeeased, said her husband had been addicted to drinking b.:the past eight years, and was quarrel. some when he had drink. He had been drinking during the past week or so. On Saturday last he got his business done about seven p.m., and after that, up to 10-30, he was in and out of the house and walking up and down the street. One glass •if ale would affect his head. At 10.30 he went out again, and remained out for about an hour. Thought he had a little more drink while he was out. They were in poor circumstances, and on Saturday sent three chairs to the market to sell, and they realised 7s. At 11.30 deceased began talking about the chairs being sold fax nothing, and said witness ought to have ,:one and seen them sold. Witness said, "Never mind ; we can't help it ; it's done." He then called her some peculiar names, and she wept out, thinking he would get pacified. She had done so before when they had had words. He looked her out, and she waited about a few minutes, but as he did not open the door she went along to her sister-in-law's at 71, Wilson-street. Had only been there about ten minutes;•ind was then ope _ the door to return, when her son ,Thomas came to her, and she went home. There were several pieces of rope hanging in the scullery which had come off hampers. Deceased had sometimes been in a low way, and said that he wished his time was over. His memory was gone They got a County Court summons on Tuesday, which affected his mird. Deceased's brother and sister had both been insane. He was a very passionate man. He complained of a pain in the back of his head. He had a gathering, and at times there was a discharge from his ears. On Saturday, at the early part of the day, he was selling butter, and in the evening he went to the market to see about the chairs.—P.C. Joes deposed that soon after twelve o'clock on Saturday night he was called to 75, Johnson-street, and found the deceased hanging on the staircase suspended from the baluster by the rope produced. He was dead, but the body was warm. He cut the body down.—The jury returned a verdict of" Suicide while in a state of temporary insanity."  abotr