The Blackpool Herald. — 1884-10-31 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

BLACKPOOL.  SAD SUICIDE AT FLFETWOOD.  THE INQUEST.  An inquiry into the circumstances touching the death of the woman, McLoughlin, who committed suicide by hanging yesterday week, as reperted in our last, was held at the Police Station, Fleetwood, last Saturday, before W. Gilbertson, Esq., district coroner. From tha evidence adduced it appears that the poor woman hat been in a delicate state of health for some time, and there is no doubt whatever that this has preyed upon her mind to such an extent as to overcome her reason, and thus brought about her sad end. The jury was composed as follows :—Alfred J. Gibson (foreman), William Bailey, Robert Taylor, James Harvey, William Lawrence, Philip Williams, John Duckworth, Lucas Hudson, Robert Winder, Ralph Mason, Thomas WalinAey and Robert Cleator. John McLoughlin, son of deceased stated that he had lived with his mother, who was a widow, at 23, Upper Dock-street, Fleetwood. He last saw her alive at hall-past twelve, when he was at dinner. Deceased spoke to him and appeared to be the same as usual, making no complaint whatever. She was next seen by witness about a quarter-past four, and was then dead. Witness could not give any reason why she had taken away her life. He had not suspected alythicg, nor had deceased mentioned anything to him He did not know her age, but had heard his brother sly that she Was 49. She was a steady woman, and only took what was ordered by the doctor. She had been ill for . the last five or six months. On Wednesday, the doctor asked deceased if she could manage without him, and deceased replied that she :amid and that he need not call again. The doctor had not warned them, nor told them anything. Deceased did not require watching. She had been in a low state of mind ever since she came back to Fleetwood, last Christmas; but he never tholght anything of it. She had been under the treatment of Dr. Ramsey. When deceased had placed anything anywhere she forgot where she had put it. Witness had heard her say she was like a person going out of her mind. Witness was the first to find her, when he went home about a quarter•past four. He had no particular reason for going then, but he generally went about that time for his tea when he was not doing anything. The door was not open, but latched, and he went in an I close lit after him. On being asked where he found decea.sed, witness was overcome by his feelings, and had to leave the box until he recovered himself. On returning later on he said that when he got home he found his mother hanging from the ceiling, hut did notnotice what was round her neck. He went next door and told his aunt, and she went and told the people in the next house.  The Foreman: Do you know of anything which would lead us to believe that there was something on her mind which would cause her to do it?  Witness: No, I did not notice anything. I had only been out of work since Saturday, and not a fortnight, as stated by the papers. A Juryman: How long has your brother been away at Liverpool? Witness: Only since we removed from there. Ralph Slater, of 21, Burling-terrace, said he was employed by the Fleetwood Local Board working in the street at the time of the occurrence. It was 17 minutes past four when he went into the house. Whilst working in the street he heard a curious noise, as of some one in deep distress, and on looking round saw the last witness going into the shop next door, seeming to be greatly distressed. There was a woman came out ot the shop and afterwards went into No. 26. Witness asked what wa, the matter, but he received no answer. Upon enquiring again the woman replied "Will you go into the house? there is a woman hanging." Witness replied "and you standing here: why don't you cut her down?" Witness then opened his knife, ran in, and cut the body down. Deceased was hanging by a woollen scarf from a hook in the ceiling. She was quite dead. There was no one in the appartment when he went in, but there were several people standing at the door. He did not know deceased personally or anything about her, but knew her by sight. He had heard that she waain a depressed state of mind.  In answer to the Coroner. P.S. Wilson stated that Sergeant Pattineen ha4l-seeu Dr. Ramsey that morning, who said he was very much surprised to hear that the woman had,sommitted suicide. Mary McLoughlin, daughter of deceased, said that her mother, who had been ill some time, had told her that she had neither ache nor pain anywhere. Witness had been working at the Rubber Works, and had given her notice in labut a fort. night since in order that she might stay at home. When the doctor came, her mother said one would be enough, and told witness to commence work again. Deceased always seemed to have something on her mind, and appeared to have a poor memory. She had her tea with her mother about two o,clock on the day in question, and when leaving deceased asked her if she would be back again, and she replied in the negative Witness went into her aunt's, and afterwards returned home for her ahaw which she had left and saw her mother going into the back kitchen, appearing to be carrying a pan, as if she was washing up. She then left to go to work. Witness would not have gone to work if she had suspected anything. The jury were unanimously of opinion that there was no evidence of any kind of distress except her delicate state of health, and a verdict that deceased committed suicide whilst in a state of mental depression was returned.