The Telegram. — 1899-05-23 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE ON THE RAILWAY AT BILMERTON.—ML R. A. Wilson and a jury, of whom Mr. W. B. Wilson was foreman, inquired on Friday into the circumstances attending tee death of the body of a labourer named William Bungay, aged 28, of 11. Avon Terrace, Devizes Road, Salisbury, who erse found lying dead by the side of the L. & S.W. Railway Company's line, near Skew Bridge, ol Friday morning. Emma Bungay, widow of the deceased, said her husband was a labourer, and worked in Mr. Young's gravel-pit. She last Hue him alive a few minutes before 2 o'clock that , morning, when he got up and dressed and went out , without saying a word. He went to bed about 10 o'clock the previous night, and during the nighthe got out of bed several times to attend to their little boy, who was troubled with a bad cough. Deceased had complained of pains in the head ever since his father died, a little more than two yeors ago. He took hie father's death very much LO heart, and he Wad also a good deal worried about his mother, who was taken to the Asylum snout 12 months ago. At times he was bright enough, but sometimes he became very gloomy and deprelsed.. She bad Lever heard him threaten to take his life.—Henry Ward and Jesse Griffin, two engine cleaners, living at Wilton, then gave evidence to Lime effect that, as they were walking to their work at Salisbury that morning, about 4 o'clock, the driver of a mail car stopped them and told them that there was a man lying on the line a little Ms. tance from Skew Bridge. They went on, and (row the bridge they saw a body lying by the side of the metals on the side of the bridge Dearest Vil ton. Ward at once went to Salisbury Station and gave information to Inspector Butler. Jobs Thomat Butler, a night inspector of the Locomos Live Departnieut at tile L. & S.W. Railway-station, said that morning, about 4 o'clock, he received information from the witness Ward that a ion Was lying on the line close to Skew Bridge. Wanes' went to the spot, and found the deceased lying on his side, on the outside rail, with his head close to the metals, and his feet towards the bank. He lace was towards the bridge. There was a bed wound on his head, and he appeared to be dead. When witness returned to Salisbury he examined the engine of the Yeovil goods train. which arrived at Salisbury Station at 3.25 a.m., and noticed that there w" come blood ..•11 the guard iron and also on the leading and driving wheels on the left side of the engine.—Win. Butler, the driver of the goods, train, was called aud stated that he saw nothing of Bungay on the line that meriiing, and knew nothing of the occurrence until his engine was examined.—Mr. H. L. E. Wilks, medical practitioner, of Salisbury, stated that he examined the body as it lay by the aide of the line a few minutes Mtn' 6 that morning. There was large laceration of the scalp and fracture of the ekull. Death must have been ini•tantaneous-P.C. Butler produced a piece of rope which war found lying by the side of the body.—A verdict of I "Death by suicide whilst of an unsound mind" was returned.  Printed and pubiiehed !Dr the Proprietor, at Street Yeovil, by Passe cat; and 140 vt the Teietrapt or-te, tatematerreile