Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1895-05-25 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

THE RECENT SUICIDE AT BRIDLINGTON.  THE INQUEST.  The inquest on the body of Edward Ash. ' bridge Siddall, whoee tragic death we briefly reported in last week's issue, was held at the Crown Inn, Bridlington, on Friday afternooe last, before Mr. C. L. W. Colby, deputy. coroner.  Mr. Jackson SOMall was the first witness called, and said that he was a retired grocer, living in Oxford Street, Bridlington. Deceased was his son, who was '2B years of age, and was also a grocer. The previous night his wife and himself, together with his son, went to bed at the same time. On the Wednesday night the deceased had been wandering about the house, and they had had very little sleep. He had not been so well the last two or three days, and a medical attendant had been summoned. On Thursday night they had only been in bed about ten I minutes when the deceased's mother heard I him, go downstairs very gently. at first they hardly knew whether it was he, or his brother coming in. Rib mother got up, and when she looked out of. her bedroom door she saw that his door was open, and accordingly called out to him three or four times, but receiving no answer she went downstairs. Up to this time witness had not got out of bed, but on his wife getting downstairs she saw what had occurred and at once called out, and he (Mr. Siddall) jumped out of bed and rushed downstairs. In reply to the Coroner, witness said that his wife saw him cutting his throat( Proceeding, Mr. Siddall said that his wife ran to the front door and rushed out for assistance, and he went into the kitchen, and found deceased laid on the scullery tioor, lie never spoke a word to any of them, and they shortly afterwards sent for the doctor, and communicated with the police. By the Coroner: Deceased had been away for two years and a quarter, and they did not know where he was. For the first two months he was at Cardiff with his sister, and afterwards at York. They brought him home on the Ist May. Deceased had beer very low spirited, and they had sent him to Cardiff to see if a change would do him say good. On the morning of the day on which he committed suicide, deceased had taken some laudanum as he thought it would do him good. Mr. W. Furby, journalist, said that he lived at Octen Lodge, Oxford Street. The previous evening he had been to the Concert at the Wellington Hall, and had returned home about 10-80. He was just sitting down to supper when someone opened the front door and called oat, "Mr. Furby, come I" On going into the entrance hall he saw that it was Mx. Bidden, who again said, " Ohl come at once." He put his hat and coat on and ran after him, and said, "Whatever is the matter 9" Witness caught up to Mr. Siddall when they got to his door, and again asked what was the matter, and received the answer, "Teddy has cut his throat." On going into the house witness saw a quantity of blood in the kitchen as though an artery had burst and squirted about. There were also footmarks about. Mr. Siddall Hank into a chair, and said, "He's in there," pointing to the scullery. Witness lit a candle and went in, when he found the deceased sat on the floor, with his back leaning against the pantry door, and his head thrown a little to the right. He was not conscious, but was breathing heavily, and his eyes were shut. He had his shirt on, which was soaked with blood down the whole of the front. • The floor of the scullery was more like a slaughterhouse than anything else—it was literally covered with blood. Witness went to him and touched his head, and on doing so, maw blood trickling down both sides of the throat, On Looking round he saw a carving knife (produced) laid on the sink stone. Seeing that he could not do anything he went out to see if the doctor was coming, and he met him about 80 or 40 yards from the house, and they returned together. The dootqr afterwards went home for some needles, leo., as he then thought it would be necessary to use them. On his return, they removed him into the front kitchen, and laid him on the hearthrug, putting pillows under him. Witness remained about an hour and then went home. , Mr. Robinson, surgeon, stated that he was called about a quarter to eleven. Mr. Blythe I came in a goat hurry to his house sod asked if he wmat go to Hr. Siddall's at once. He accordingly did so, and on reaching the house the first thing he saw was a quantity of blood ,in the kitchen leading into the Roan& y. On going there he saw the deceased leaning 'l:=She wall, with a frightful gash in his He cams to the conclusion that some 'artery had been severed, and he rushed out Ito fetch some instrnmente. Dammed looked very bad indeed, and they thought he would die any minute. On examining the wound he saw that, sit= it was a large one, it was en only of a character. The direction of the woun was from left to right. On the left side both the external jugular veins were divided. No arteries had been severed. His opinion was that the wound was self-inflicted, and could be done by the knife produced, Iwhich was not a very sharp one. Had it been sharp it would have cut through the windpipe. I He believed that the cause of death was loss of blood. The following ver(llot was returned I—That the demand oomniitted suicide whilst in a state of temporary menial derangement,  A Jersey City burglar wee identified in court by the affection of a dog whioh aooompanied him on his business trips.  TinloAT Isnmvion