Weekly News. — 1892-02-18 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE OF A LADY VISITOR AT BOURNEMOUTH.  On Monday afternoon, an inquest was held by Mr. Bernard Harfield, county coroner, and a jury, at Coßingwood, West Cltff, Bournemouth, respecting the death of Isabel Charlotte Thackwell, an unmarried lady, aged 35 years, who has been residing at Coiling. wood, r.nd who was found dead in bed on Saturday morning. Dr. Snow deposed that he had known the deceased about three and a-half years. She had been living in Bournemouth during that time. She was about 35 years of age, and unmarried. On Saturday last he was called to Collingwood to see her, and found her lying in bed in an easy position, dead. From the heat of the body. he was of opinion she hail not been dead more than an hour. Her face, lips and body generally were of a dusky hue. On a table standing within easy reach at the right hand side of the bed, he found a bottle, which he now produced, and which was labelled " laudanum," and a 2-oz. medicine glass' containing a drop or so of laudanum. On the left hand side of the bed, on a chair, he found a basin containing vomited matter, which appeared to witness to smell of laudanum. He subsequently heard from Miss Parnell that she had a letter, addressed to her by the deceased, in which she indicated her intention to take tier own life. Witness had attended her from time to time during the last three years for general debility, nervous prostration, and hysteria. She also suffered severely at times from neuralgic pains. She was recovering when about January, the 10th, she received the information of her father's death. She appeared to feel considerable grief in consequence, and her recovery was retarded a little. On Tuesday, the 9th of February, her trained nurse left her, as she was then well enough to dispense with her services; and in her place an attendant was called in to wait upon her. Some three weeks ago, in severe pals, she had morphia draughts given her to relieve the pain, and, at various times, various external applications, but no laudanum. He might add that he did not order the opium found by the bedside and did not know that it was in her possession • that in his opinion she had always had a badly balanced mind; that grief for her father's death rendered her for a time temporarily insane, and that while in that state she took one-half the bottle of laudanum, which was more than sufficient to cause death. His opinion was that death was 3ue to laudanum poisoning. Charlotte Seeley, of 13, West Cliff Grove, stated that she was a married woman,the wife of John Seeley. Witness had attended deceased for about ten days prior to her death. Last Friday evening she left her about the usual time (half-past seven). About 6 o'clock in the evening deceased asked witness to go to the chemist and get her scent bottle filled for her, and bring also a 4oz. bottle of laudanum. Witness asked her what it was for (thinking that the chemist would want to know), and she replied it was to rub on where she found the pain,and to sprinkle on flannel. Witness procured it for her. Witness brought back the laudanum and left it at the right hand side of the table with other things. She had not the least idea she intended to commit suicide; nor did she think her at all likely to do so. The Foreman of the Jury : Did the chemist who supplied you with the laudanum make any remark or enquiry when you asked him for the laudanum? Witness: He asked me what it was going to be used for, and I told him the same as Miss Thackwell had told me. . . .  The Foreman: Isn't it usual to sign a book, Cr something of that kind, when laudanum in such quantity is supplied? The Coroner said it was not necessary—not compulsory. Annie Roberts stated that she was in the service of Muss Farnell, at Collingwood. On Saturday morning, the 13th inst, witness went to deceased's room to assist in preparing the body for burial, and under the pillow she found the letter produced. It was addressed to Miss Farnell, to whom witness handed it. The Coroner here read the letter, which was as follows: Feb. 12. If dead in the morning, please send at once for my people and let my things rest locked up in this room until they come. I leave all my things and money to my own sister. I die forgiving all and entirely of grief and broken heart. Please verk Mr. Bennett to bury me. L. C. M.