The Warwickshire Herald. — 1887-08-11 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SUICIDE OF MR. LOACH : INQUEST.  On Saturday evening last, Mr. Joseph Ansell (deputy coroner for central Warwickshire) held an enquiry at the Crown Inn, Wheeler-street, concerning the death of William Loach (44), manufacturer's manager, of 269 Wheeler-street. Mr. Wallis was foreman of the jury. The first witness was the deceased's son, William Frederick Loach, engraver, living at 269, Wheeler-street, who stated that his father had been in the employ of Mr. Bown, Summer-lane for about ten years. He last saw him alive on the night of the 4th inst. • about midnight, when he left him sitting up downstairs with his mother. About half-past six the next Friday morning he heard a peculiar noise as though he was snoring and on going into his fathers bed-room he found him lying face downwards on the floor, groaning. Observing a quantity of blood and suspecting that somethimg serious was the matter, witness went for Dr. tally, but finding that he was at the surgery in Great Hamton row, he went and aroused Dr. Hadley, who attended immediately. Previous to the arrival of the doctor, witness, accompanied by a neighbour went into the bed-room but suspecting that his father was dead they did not touch him. Dr. Hadley on his arrival pronounced life extinct. The Coroner: I um led to understand that your father has made a previous attempt upon his life; did you know anything of it Witness: Yes.—How lone, ago? •—About 12 years ago.—ln what way ?—Tlise same way, sir-1N as you father an intemperate man ? No, sin—Had he anything on his mind likely to induce him to commit suicide ?--Only that he was in a low and depressed state.--How long had he been so ?- -About a fortnight.—How could you tell he was depressed ?—By his manners; he always wanted to be at business, thinking he had not done sufficient. —Had he recently threatened to commit suicide ?—No.---Had any complaint been made of his not having done enough work? --No, sir.—P.C. W. Harrison having deposed to having been called in to see the body, and having produced a small blunt pocket knife which was found under the deceased.--Dr. G. P. Hadley:, of Lozells-road, stated that on Friday morning, about a quarter to 7, he was called to 269, Wheeler-street, where he found in a bedroom the deceased lying face downwards in a pool of blood, quite dead. On examining the body he found a large wound in the left side of the throat. The wound, which extended from the centre of the throat to the ear, was sufficient to cause death. The pen-knife produced, though not sharp, would in the hands of a determined man be capable of inflicting a fatal wound. The blunted knife would account for the jaggedness of the wound. Witness also found on the throat of the deceased the marks of a former attempt to cut his throat. Though withess had attended the deceased, and knew that he was depressed, he had no reason to suppose that he would take his life. Deceased , called upon witness on the Wednesday preceding his death, and whilst waiting in the surgery it was remarked that he seemed very restless.--The foreman of the jury: Could the son of the deceased have done anything which would have saved his father's life ?--Witness : No, nothing.— Mr. Loach, recalled, said there was no pecuniary reason why his father should commit suicide.— The Coroner, having briefly recapitulated the salient features of the evidence, the jury returned a verdict of " Suicide whilst temporarily insane."  THE ANNFAL MEETING OF TRE RIRMI:cm :;-1.1.4 AN it' ASTON TRAMWAVi The annual meeting of the shareholder 3 of the abovc, company was 'l4l gnecifs Lutet on Saturday imst. Mr. E. Pritchard, who presided, - moved the adoption of tile report, which has already been published, and which recommended a dividend of 10 per cent. He said it was proposed to again pay a dividend of 10 per cent. It might be objected that they had not earned the 10 per cent, dividend. He thought that after the shareholders had fully considered the whole position of the company they would come to the conclusion that they had most assuredly. He might tell them that they fully intended (9 soon as additional mileage was not aeconipanied by additional receipts to reduce time mileage. No doubt the public would not like this, but the company were obliged to consider what paid them. Referring to the sale of the Wheeler-street route, he said the shareholders might want to know the reasons why, after obtaining it, the directors let it go again. Among time reasons for giving it up was the consideration that their cars would not have been able to get to town without having to rely for traction upon the Central Company's cables. and as the Aston Company had proposed very advantageous terms for mere running powers in the 01(1 Square, the Central Company might want equally advantageous terms for the use of traction. It would have been impossible for the line to have ever earned 10 per cent, like the others, and bearing in mind that the monopoly of the traffic to Aston Lower Grounds was lost when the Central Company obtained the right to run direct to the grounds from the Six Ways, he did not think the directors would have been justified in keeping the line. Colonel TWVNitAm, one of the directors,seconded the adoption of the report. Mr. S. R. Poulin criticised the report, and said he (lid not consider that the state of the finances justified a 10 per cent. dividend.. The report was adopted. Mr. Pritchard and the other retiring.director, Colonel Twynam, were re-elected. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.