The Herald of Wales. — 1887-10-15 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

THE INQUEST. The deputy coroner, Mr T. N. Telford Steil*, hold an inquiry on Wednesday afternoon, at the Star Inn, Pontardawe, into the circumstances attending the sad death of Richard Jones, fernier, of Penyresgyrn farm. Pontardawe, who, as stated in our columns of Wednesday commit. ted suicide by hanging himself on Tuesday morning. The first witnese examined was Daniel Jones who deposed that he lived at PwllWatkin farm with his father,Hery Jones, and assisted him. The body the jury had viewed was that of his brother, Richard Jones. lie wee a married man, and 41 years of age. Deceased lived at Peayresgryn Fatal which was about a mile from Fein Mathin. Between six aed seven on Monday evening deceased came to Pwll Weatkin and stayed till one o'clock on Tuesday morning. He had supper there and afterwards stopped talking. Witness'S sister, Anne Jones had gone to the shoemakers' at Craig Cwn Park, and deceased was waiting for :ler ; expecting she would bring some hoots for him. She relarned about 12 o'clock, and said his boots were not ready. Deceased left at one the next molding, saying it was getting late, and he was bound to go home. Witness saw him as he was leaving through the back door, and shut the door after him. Deceased appeared the same as usual, and as well as wit. nee had ever seen him. They had not been talking about anything panicular when he was there. At six &deck, witness went to work as usual, and when he came in to breakfast shortly after eight, he noticed his sister Anne crying very badly. She said she had found Richard hanging in the cart-house. Witness went there at once and saw deceased lying on the some fern, quite dead. There was a mark on his neck. Witness' In further examination, said that an uncle of his had hanged himself some years ago. Annie Jones, sister of deceased, corroborrated her brother's evidence up to the time of deceased leaving the house. Witness felt up about the same time as her brother in the morning, and at 8 o'clock, noticing the catthouse door open, went to tee what was the matter, when she made the ghastly discovery of her brother's body hanging by a cord to the roof. Ills feet were on a heap of fern and his legs were bent. Witness undid the rope immediately, and deceased's body fell on the fern. The body was warm, but the face and hands were cold. The rope (prodmed) was round his neck. Witness did not recognise the rope as belonging to the farm. She did not know of anything which troubled de3eased. He was on good terms with his family. Witness had heard that some of their family had done away with themselves. A doctor had been immediately sent for on the dreadful dieeovery being made. Dr. Griffith Griffiths, of Pontarclawc, stated that on the morning in question, he was sum , mooed about ten o'clock to go to Pall Watkin farm. On arriving at the farm, he had deeeeeed's body taken into the house, and examined It. Theyearke he found were in accord with the ' idea that deceased had hanged hims.lf. . The , body was cold and rapidly getting stiff, so that deceased might have been dead six or s:ven ' hours. Witness had attended the family for ,I years. there was a rerort in the village that , several members of the family had committed suicide.  This was all the evidence, and, the jury, after some discussion, returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony, viz., that deceased hanged himself durinu a fit of temporary instusity.'