Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1904-01-29 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

SEPARATION AND POISON.  SUICIDE AT NELSON: A LAST LETTER.  Richard H. Tillestson was summoned, before the Nelson Bench, on Saturday, for neglecting his wife, who asked, for a separation order.—Plicebe Hannah Tillotson save evidence to the effect that she lived at 24, Banbury-street. Defendant got 255. a week when he was in work but he had dcne no work for twelve months. When he did earn a few shillings be used to drnvk it. He was discharged from his last employment because of the drink.—Defendant admitted that he had last his work partly through drinking, but said be was willing to maintain his wife if be could get work. He was asked if he was prepared to sign the I pledge. He replied that be was, and toI start, work at once if be coulkk get it.— Margaret Tillotson, a daughter, said that, she had been obliged to leave home b, cause I of her father's drunken habits. Martha' Tillotson, another daughter, also gave evi-, dence.—The Clerk asked the complainant if she wanted any allowance. She replied, in the affirmative—The Clerk: Well, he has nothing.—A ,separation order was made and an allowance of Is. per week for maintenance. Defendant expressed his intention of going into the workhouse on Monday if he could not get work. On Monday, it appears, Tillotson changed • his mind as to applying for admission to the Workhouse, poisoned himself and pre himself up to the police. He was taken to lan Police Station and there expired shortft after his arrival.. . .  An inque.:t 011 h body wee held on Wednesday afternoon by/ the Coroner, Mr. H. J. Robixeon, and a jury.  The wife of the deceased, Phoebe Hannah Tillotson, said her husband was 52 years of age. She had not lived with him for the last three weeks and she obtained a sopara. tion order against him at the Nelson Police Court on Saturday. She had not set•rt him since.  P.S. Guthrie said that at about. 11-10 on Monday nighf the deceased came up to him, in Leeds-road and said, "Sergeant, I wantl you to lock me up; I have taken poison."l He asked him what he had taken and he replied "I have taken two pennyworth of oxalic acid." He asked him where he got it from and he replied "I am not „iseing to say." Witness brought him straight to the Police Station. He appeared to be in great pain; especially in hi stomack. Ho sent for Dr. Ritchie and gave deceased some oil, that being the best thing he could get. The doctor arrived at about 11-20 and said that nothing could be dons for him. He was as a matter of fact expiring just as the doctor arrived. The body showed evidence., of poisoning.  The Coroner said a letter was found on the deceased addressed to Mrs. Tillotson, Bradbury-street, off Barkerhouse-road, Netson. It was as follows : —"lan. 25, 1904. Dear am going away to-morrow and whatever happens to foe the responsibility will rest with you and your child-. ren. I have had to sleep out. and get a bit. of food where I could for the last three weeks till I can stan.d it no longer.—D. • lotison." The Coroner added that, there was no doubt that the man had taken poison and dd from the efferts. He seemed to have . been very miserable for the last three weeks, but he had brought it on himself by his own doings. Under these ciremmdances would they, think he was of unsound mind%  The jury decided that he was., and returned, t verdict of "Suicide while (if unsound. mind."