Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1883-06-01 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

POOLE'.  SMOCKING SUICIDE AT POKESDOWN.  An inquest was ha I on F. id .y at the White Horse Inn, Pokeadown (before Mr. J. Druitt) on the b .dy of Gecrgo blunder), aged 44 labourer, who c immitt al suic de on too previous Digit by placing his head on the down line of the railwey which runs through Poker do wn, just before the I alit down train (half-pest nine) passed. The head was severed from the body. Mr. Hoskisson (superintendent for the Southamptoo district) and Mr. J. C Holliday (superintendent of the Dorchester distric.) at nded the inquest on behalf of the Landon and Setuh-Westein Railway Campauy.—Georde Billows, labourer, of Pokesdown, and halfbrother to the deceased, stated that deceased was a steady and sober man. Witness saw dec %iv d on Sanday, when he complained of b. ing low spirited. Witness advised Win to leave woik for a time, but he said he cculd 'net do. that Daces,: ed's wife came to witness early this (Fader) morning tr know if he had seen her husband, as he had not come home. Witnesi weit in search of him, and discovered the I ody on the railway. just mid r the Midge. Ho went for the police, end help d to remove the body.—ln reply to the jury, witness said deceased had lived happily with hie wife, and was in good wo.k. 11, fear. cl. from what he had heard him say, that he might have done some harm to hims if. Dec,ased had never x reseed a direct determinatson t destroy himself. —Cohn Gray, black•mitti, of Pekes town, and brother-inlaw of the deceased also gave evidence as to deceased having been low-spirited. lie last saw him alive on the previous night about twenty minutes past nine. Witness met him at the corner of Cromwell-read (near the spot where the body was found), and wished him "Good-night." Deceased replied "Good night."—ln answer to a juryman, witne,s said it was quite true that about a year ago the moecearkd gave up a job of gardening because he was "not equal to it," and took to common labour.—P.C. Long dm pared that he was called to the body of the deceased at about four o'clock that (Friday) morning. He found iunder the railway bridge. The feet were pressed against the wall of the bridge, and one of the hands was clenched in the chair of the rails. The head was lying inside the rail, The last train to Bournemouth was t med to leave Christchurch at 9 26 —The witness Gray (re-called) said his sister came to him, about one o'clock in the morning, about her husband being missed. Supper was provided for him on the previous night, but he left home at about nine o'clock and never returned. Witness had h ,ard him make a remark to the effect that he should " not be here another year" to see the flowers which he had planted prosper. He had also said to his wife that he should not pot any more flowers. The Coroner summed up the evidence, and pointed out that it was, no doubt, a determined case of suicide, as was shown by the evidence of the position in which the body was found. The question for the jury t 3 decide was as to whether deceased was in his right mind when he cornmitted the act.—Oue of the jurymen said he had worked with deceased, who at times seemed quits unable to undeistsnd questioua which he was asked.—The jury then returned a verdict to the effect that deceased committed suicide while of unsound mind.—Deceased leaves a widow and three children.