Weekly News. — 1892-08-25 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE OF A POOLE TRADE SMAN. INQUEST AND VERDICT.  Early on Thursday morning, between four and five o'clock, Mr. Emmanuel Jacobs, baker and grocer, of Longfleet, committed suicide by hanging himself, at the back of his premises. Deceased, who has lived in Poole all his life, was very highly respected, and great sorrow is felt for his family in their sad bereavement. It appears that during the last 12 months Mr. Jacobs has been in failing health and has repeatedly complained of pains in his head, and especially during the last few weeks. He had also been suffering from diarrhcea during the last week, for which he had been receiving medicine from Dr. Robinson. It appears that on Thursday morning he got up at his usual time to make the bread with his two 130125. He was shortly afterwards missed, and his eldest son, on going to the stores at tke back of the premises, was shocked to see the body of his father hanging against the wall by a rope. He immediately cut him down, but life was extinct, although the body was warm. The inquest on the body was held at the George Ina the same mcrning, before the Coroner (Mr. G. Braxton Aldridge). Mr. G. Bush was chosen foreman of the jury, and the jurymen sworn were Messrs E Guy, C T Snook, J Sampson, G King, W Reeve, C Welch, W Brown, J Barfoot, H White, H E Shave, W F Williams and J Grutten.  The Coroner said they had met that day to inquire as to the cause of the death of Emmanuel Jacobs. They had all known him a great number of years as a highly respectable and steady man. It appeared that morning that deceased got up between four and five, with his two sons to prepare the sponge for the bread. and while it was fermenting Mr. Jacobs went out into the back of the premises, and he being missed a 1463 later, the elder son went to look for him, and found him in the back stores hung by his neck. The son immediately cut him down' but it was found that deceased was dead. They had to find the cause of death, and he had no doubt but that they would bring in a verdict of "temporary insanity." The jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was taken: Maria Jacobs said that theit ody that the jury had just seen was that of her husband, Emmanuel Jac,bs. He was 56 years of age last month. She last saw him alive about 3 o'clock that morning, when he got up to make the bread as he did every morning. The deceased had not been in his usual state of health during the last 12 months, and in that time he had changed very much. He had been suffering from diarrhwa during the last week, and for some time past he had Buffered with bad pains in his head. He complained last night of pain. The paper produced was in the deceased's writing, and it stated 'Just to say cannot do my work on account of head, arms, and leg. All of my members distress me so. Unable to do my duty.—E. JACOBS," He had not been able to do much work lately. Her son had done the principal part. She had never heard her husband threaten to destroy himself. She did not know that he had anything on his mind or that he was troubled with business matters. They had always lived happily together. Deceased slept well last night. Mr. Thomas Jacob, son of deceased, said he was in business with his father, as a grocer and baker. He last saw his father alive at five o'clock, when he came into the bakehouse and said " The work is all ready," meaning that the groceries were pot up ler witness to carry sway in the waggon, and he thought they would be able to get on with the work. About twenty minutes after, witness asked his brother where his father was. He replied that he did not know. Witness then went into the store to get something out, when the first thing he saw was his father hung against the wall by a rope attached to ama Witness at once cut him down, and found a starch box nearly under him as if he had been standing on it. The deceased's feet were about six inches from the ground. Deceased  was quite dead but the body was warm. From the time witness last saw his father alive till the time he cut him down was about 25 minutes. After witness cut deceased down he at once sent for medical assistance, but on the arrival of the medical men they pronounced life extinct. Deceased had complained of pains in the head during the last six months, and said he should go out of his mind. The pains seemed to be principally in the forehead. Deceased had no business trouble upon his mind, and he had never heard his father threaten to destroy himself. Dr. Robinson gave him two bottles of medicine last week as he had the diarrhoea and pains in his head. He had been failing for the last twelve months, but did not appear to be in low spirits. The rope produced was the same as deceased hung himself with. P.S. Horn proved searching the deceased and found the note produced in the watch pocket of his waistcoat. The contents of the letter are given in Mrs. Jacob's evidence.  The jury returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide whilst of unsound mind.  The Coroner, addressing Mr. Jacobs, said they all felt sorry for him in his loss. They had always known his father to be a highly respectable man, and he was perfectly satisfied that he must have been in an unsound state of mind before he would commit suicide.