The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1880-01-03 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

DETERMINED SUICIDE BY POISON  IN COVENTRY.  On Monday an inquest was held at the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital, before T. Dewes Esq., coroner, on the body of Alfred Doyle, 23, a fitter residing in Grey friars'-lane, who committed suichie by taking a quantity of aquafortis on Boxing night. The following. evidence was given :  Samuel Wolfe Doyle, fancy cabinet maker, and father of deceased, said that he last saw his son about three weeks ago. His son was in the habit of buying aquafortis for use in his trade. Mary Ann Cramp, single woman, Greyfriars-lane, said that deceased had lived with her for nearly two years. He had been out of work close on three months, and during the last few weeks had appeared strange in his manner in consequence. On the day before he died he appeared to be very strange, and talked about very curious things, but still there was nothing to lead her to believe that he meant to commit suicide. On Friday night, between five and six, be went out, asking her where she should be in half-an-hour, as he should want to see her. She did not reply to him, and abcut ten minutes afterwards he returned and met her in the street, and told her he wanted to speak to her. She went into the house with him, and he then told her to fetch a neighbour, as he had poisoned himself. He was in great pain at the time, and pulled out a bottle (produced) from his pocket, and said that he had taken some of its contents. She sent for a  eighbonr, and the police-constable Wright attended. Deceased pointed the bottle out to the constable, and said he had taken some out of it. Deceased was then removed to the Hospital. He had never threatened to destroy himself, and witness had not quarrelled with him for three weeks. She knew of no reason why he should destroy himself, except that he could not get work. Five minutes elapsed before assistance was sent for, as witness did not believe he had taken poison. P.C. Thomas Wright said that about half-past six o'clock on Friday, he was called to the house where deceased lived. The last witness and two other women were present. He asked deceased whether he had "taken "anything, and he said he had not. He was lying on the bed at the time, and corn plained of great pain in the bowels. He asked the last witness whether she had seen him take anything, and she said she had not. She did not say that deceased had told her that he had taken poison. Witness at once went to the police station, and gave information to P.S. Golby. In about half-an-hour afterwards he was again callel in, and found blood issuing from the deceased's mouth. He again sent to P.S. Golby. Deceased afterwards admitted taking poison, but did not point out the bottle, as stated by the last witness. P.S. Golby stated that a little before seven on Friday night he was called by the last witness, and went to deceased's house. He asked deceased what he had taken, and he said aquafortis. He asked him where the bottle was, and he pointed to a table near where Cramp was sitting, and Cramp then handed him the bottle. He asked deceased where he purchased it, and he said "from a chemist's shop at the corner of Much Park-street." He seemed to be in great pain, and witness sent for Dr. Read at once, and mixed some chalk and water, which he gave to deceased just as the doctor arrived. Alfred Henry Newton, chemist, said that on Friday afternoon he saw the deceased, who purchased two penny-worth of aquafortis, which he put into the bottle and labelled poison, and gave deceased. There was nothing in deceased's manner to excite suspicion. Dr. A. W. Read, M.R.C.S., stated that on the 26th inst. he was called to deceased's residence about 10 or 15 minutes past seven. He found him in a state of collapse, with great pain in the throat and bowels, and attempting to vomit. He had had some chalk and water, and witness saw that the bottle had contained nitric acid. The place was in a wretched state, and he ordered his removal to the hospital. The symptoms of deceased ware compatible with his having swallowed a quantity of nitric acid. Dr. Henry Davis, temporary house surgeon at the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital. said that the deceased was brought :to the hospital about 7.30 on Friday evening. He died on Saturday at a few minutes before one. He had since made a postmortem examination, and he was of [opinion that death was the result of perforation caused by the , acid.  A verdict was returned to the effect that deceased died from taking aquafortis, there being no evidence to show his state of mind at the time.