The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1879-09-23 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE OF MR. J. F. FOWLER. TIM MUIR  Was held at the Royal Oak Inn, before W. H. Atldason, Req., coroner, and the following jmy—Mr. George Grovel (foreman), Mews. James Bisp, George Norris, Frederick Short, Benjamin Braker, John Davis, Samuel Way, ELanry Passes, William Sties, Anthony Biles, Henry Loath John Foyls, and Edwin Augestos Friend. The jury first viewed the body, which was lying in the house, at the Manor Farm. It presented a shocking eight, the charge (of shot) having posed through the neck, entirely carry* away the windpipe and the gullet, wounding the chin, and separating part of the connections with the heart. Death must ha,* been instantaneous. The jury then visited the plans where the sled act was dons; this was in the saddle-room, adjoining the stables, on the bin of which diseased had been sitting holding hi. hunting-whip straight before him, and it is supproed that be had the handle of the whip premed downwards against one of the triggers of a double-barrelled breech-loader, which was seen by his groom after the body fell. The boom is In an open park-like gram field, the garden and ahrubbery seeming to be at the side, and the saddle-room, etc., In front. The field or part, in which the house stands out otherwise without screen, is sequestered from the village by a bolt of tress skirting the road which leads up to the church. The jury having returned through the park and the village to the Royal Oak, the following evidence was token :  John Jeffery, groom, in the employ of the late bit. Fowler: I lain saw him alive on Sunday al ternoon, • httle before four. He waa in the saddloroorn, adjoining the stable, sitting on the end of the corn bin. He had hia shirt collar unbuttoned, and I asked him what was the matter. He said— • I was warm, John." In hie hand he had the hunting mop, his tine 11wee through the loop, and Weather band holding the whip straight in front of him. I took hold of his shirt collar, pulled it together. fastened it, and pulled his coat over it. I said—" Woul you like to go foe a drive, meatier He replied "Yes, John I will go with you," and I went to catch hone. It was close by, I caught it, and, an I wee leading It into the stable, I beard the report of • goo, just ea I got close to the door. The bone palled me back, and I said "Oh dear I master S what hare you done r Directly alter, ha fell off the bin to the floor ; be did not speak, being quite ~ead. I gave an alarm, and Joseph Phillips aid Mr. Bliss came to my assistance. The latter got a board, end Mr. Fowler was covered with • boom-cloth, and taken indoors. He then had the hunting whip in hie hand. The gun wee lying wia.A the back of the bin, and It kad an empty cartridge in It. _ _  By the Foreman : Mader was in the stable before me. I did not see him. Hume not noticed anything different in my master's manner, within the last few weeks, from what it used to be. Thalgun was in th• stable on Saturday night, with two other*, and I cleaned them. There was no cartridge in it thee. No cartridges ere kept there, and I do not know how this one came in ths gun. By a Juror : Th. cartridges ate kept in the hones, I don't know where. There wai no other cartridge on deceased. _  Charlotte Bishop, who was employed in the house, and who saw Mr. Fowler last before Jeffery, said: I was at Mr. howler's a few minutes past three, and two cart horse. came in on the lawn in front of the house. Mr. Fowler drove them out, and told me to shut the door, as they would be wanting to come there again now they had tasted the gram. Mr. Jobs Laurence Fowler, eldest son of the deceased: My father has been in a state of great mental depression for some time, and had a great dislike to meet people whom Its used to be fond of. At times he bee been most excitable in his manner, and has turned beck and refused to meet people whom be was before familiar with. He has also taken • great dislike to certain people without any canes, and to a pet dog which be used to have, throwing • stick at it, and asking that it might be destroyed. On Thursday, about 12 o'clock, I stayed with him ball-an-hour. He seemed much depressed about the weather, and—a thing most unusual to him—he hardly spoke to my wife, and I remarked to bar the Mai change I saw in him. He ham been greatly depressed about money matters,  Mr7Oharies Wrens, method mac, of Blandford, had attended dowsed for a long thoe. At times be had been wiry despondent, especially since his brother's death. About • week ago he sent foe witness to ask advice as to his Marla, which witness strenuously advised, sad also noommended his nephew to ask Mr. Daniell to prase the matter, after which he decided to remain at the house till after harvest. Hs was perfectly rational, bet subject to fits of sudden despondency, in one of which I believe he &Buoyed himself, being at the time temporarily Loathe._ . .  —The Coroner pointed out there could be no reasonable doubt that the deceased came to hie death through • gunshot wound inflicted by himself, and also be thought there could be no doubt that at the time he was temporarily in sae. The Jury immediately returned • verdict "That Joseph Francis Fowler committed suicide whilst In a Mete of temporary insanity." The Coroner them am:aimed the pry, hoping he should not have to meet them on so and an occasion again. Demoted left • widow and three sons ; be was 81 yaws of age. A large number of friends attended Mr. Fowler's funeral. The body was plead on • Mee and so drawn to the church and the grave. Everyone will remember his brother's uosturemful contest with Captain Digby, for the representation of the shire.