The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1879-10-11 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

LUNATIC AT LARGE.—At Hereford during afternoon service on Sunday a young fellow named George Steed, a native of Southampton, but until recently managing clerk to Mr. Wallis, solicitor, of this town, visited the Cathedral, the churches of St. Peter, St. James, and St. Nicholas, and the whole of the dissenting places of worship, wearing a red covering over a black trencher cap, and waving a stick, declaring, as he marched up the aisles to the preaehing-desks or pulpits, that he was St. John the Baptist, thanking God that he had succeeded in reaching the North Pole, and in coming back to announce it as a most sovereign mark of his Creator's recognition. At St. Peter's Church and at the Wesleyan Chapel so extraordinary were his antics before the pulpit that several ladies fainted. He was followed out of the Wesleyan Chapel as he was about to start off for St. Martin's Church and Belmont Monastery, and conveyed to the police station, where Mr. Hanbury, the Union doctor, and the assistant of the prison doctor, declared him to be insane, and he was that night conveyed to Burghill Asylum. INQUEST,—On Tuesday afternoon, the 7th instant, an inquest was held at the Red Lion, Coleshill, before Thomas Dawes, Esq., coroner, on the body of Emmanuel Leyland, licensed hawker, of Coleshill, who committed suicide by hanging, on Saturday last. The jury c)raprised Messrs. James Booth, W. H. Owen, Thos. Barlow, John Gutteridge, Thos. Linforth, Wm. Ash, Jas. Randall, Thos. Dabbs, Chas. Todd, John Golby, W. H. Wayte, and Joseph Forster; Mr. Charles Todd being chosen foreman. The evidence of deceased's grand-daughter, Emily Leyland, and of his daughter, Mrs. Mary Ann Reading, was to the effect that be had taken to drink since the death of his wife, about two years ago, and had been drinking heavily in the fortnight preceding his death, whereby his mind was so weakened that he had become unconscious at times, and he would sell anything for drink. He was found by his grand-daughter about one o'clock on haturday hanging from the banisters in his _ . _  cottage by a gaiter tied round it, the noose being round his neck. He was in a stooping position, the distance not being sufficient for him to effect his purpose had he stood upright. Assistance was immediately obtained, and he was cat down by Joseph Randall. James Lafarelle. Esq., surgeon, was also sent for at once, but life was quite extinct, the body being cold; and it was believed the poor man had been dead at least five hours, as his grand-daughter was not sure that he spoke to her when she went to his cottage and called to him about eight o'clock that morning. In the coarse of her evidence, Mrs. Reading said she wished it to be understood that her father had had drink elsewhere besides at that house (the "Red Lion"). The jury returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide by hanging while in an unsound state of mind.—At the close of the inquiry, the landlady, Mrs. Elliott, was called into the room and questioned by the coroner concerning a rumour that she w e bad supplied deceased eceatml further hi er that while h had taken his articles of clothing, household goods, &c in payment for drink. She denied the accusation entirely, and said whatever she had had of deceased, she had bought and paid for, though he frequently spent some portion of the money there afterwards:—We are informed that Leland was a total abstainer for ten months after his wife's death but broke out drinking again; again and again he signed the temperance pledge, but relapsed till higl ' end became the sad one here recorded.