The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1888-05-23 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

SAD DEATH AT BARROW.  A rumour was circulated through the town on Whit Monday that a case of suicide had occurred in Barrow that morning. On investigation it appears that this story had its origia in the circumstances attending the death of Thomas Beadnall, a County Court bailiff, which were as follow :—The deceased who was about 32 years of age is described as having been of very drunken habits, and was the occupant of a room by himself at No. 3, Albion Street He was last seen by the landlady about 5 p.m. on tfaturday, when he left the house and must have returned after the inmates went to bed. Nothing more was seen of him,--the door of his room being locked—until 10.30 a.m. on Monday, when a boy named Samuel Lowe, SO, Scottstreet, on looking through the window of .deceased's room saw him lying on the floor dead. The police were infoimed, and called in Dr. Thomas, who stated that the deceased had the appearance of having died in an apoplectic fit. On Tuesday morning, in the Magistrates' Court, an inquest was held by Mr Coroner Poole on the body. Mr R. Rees was foreman of the jury. On thejury returning into court after having viewed the buoy at the mortirtry, the following evidence  was given : Nita) Maloney, of 3, Allison-street. She said that Bedduall rented a parlour in her house. He had been lodging with her for the past 10 or 12 weeks. He acted as bailiff's assistant, and was  about 30 years of age. Witness last saw him alive between three and four o'clock on Saturday, when he came out of his room and sat in her par. lour for about ten minutes. He then • went out.  He had a key aud could go in and out as he liked. Witnees had not seen him drunk. He furnished  • _ the room he occupied_himself...On Sunday last  witness enquired of Thos. Atkinson if he knew anything about him, but he said he did not. Witness never tried his door and did not imagine _ _ _  that he was in. He always locked it. There were two blinds, and one of them was down and the other up. She had no idea that the man was in.  P.c. Vickers said he had known deceased about two years, and believed he was a native of Barrow. Last saw him alive about 8-45 on Saturday night in Dalton-road. Beadnall was walking down Dalton-road going in the direction of home. As he was going by him Beadnall said "Have you anything good on ? " Witness replied " Middling ta-ta." He seemed to be then the worse of drink. He seemed not to walk steadily. Witness could not exactly say what deceased did for a living. He u.ed to go about rat-catching on farms and so on. • Enquiries were made but no one could be found who saw him after 6 o'clock on Saturday. On -Monday morning about 10-40 witness went along with Supt Harris to 3, Allison-street. The deceased was then lying on the bed dead, and the body was in a bad condition. He was dressed and in the same dress as when witness last saw him. On searching the body they found a sixpence, three half-pennies, a penny, a gun license, a knife, and a pocket book. It appeared to witness that there had been a struggle. His hands were clenched, and his legs were drawn up a little, Supt Harris said he had known deceased for the past seven years. Beadnall got his living by ratcatching. rearing dogs, and assisting the county court bailiff. From information received at 20 minutes to 11 on Monday he proceeded to 3, Allison-street. The dour had just been forced in before he had got there. He found deceased lying on his back in the middle of the floor. He was fully dressed, and even had his cap on. His muffler was tied rather tightly round his neck. Blood and mucous matter was issuing from his mouth and nostrils. The police surgeon was sent for and examined the body, and subsequently a closer examination was made at the mortuary. There were no mark of violence on the body. The deceased was a man of very drunken habits. There was no poison or anything of that kind in the place. In witness's opinion th.ire was no suspicion of foul play, but that deceased -died from a fit. The muffler was very tight round his neck, unless he swelled after he was dead, but it appeared that would not be sufficient to cause death unless he had had a fit. It was tied as he ordinarily wore it. It was not a running knot. His face and neck were more swollen than when he was alive. Matthew Lowe, a boy, living at 80, Scott-street, said that on passing the deceased's room on Monday morning he looked in at the window and saw the body on the floor. He went up Dalton-road to look for a policeman and not being able to find one he went to the Police Station and reported what he had seen. The Coroner in summing up, said it appeared that the doctor attributed death to an apoplectic fit, and no doubt the man's ordinary course of life might have tended to this in some measure. He thought the jury would have no difficulty in finding • verdict of death from natural causes. A man here stepped forward and said be wished to make a statement. This was to the effect that he was acquainted with the deceased and had been drinking with him in two public-houses at ten o'clock on Saturday morning last. The Coroner remarked that this only showed that he had started drinking very early. A verdict of death from natural causes was returned.