The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1869-06-26 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

SUICIDE BY HANGING.—An inquest was held at the Town Hall. Lancaster, before Mr. L Holden, touching the death of William Shaw, aged 73, a boot and shoemaker, of Lancaster, who was found the previous evening suspended by his neck from the upper part of his bed at his lodgings in Cable-street. The evidence of his landlady, Mrs. !Jonas, showed that during the time be had lodged with her-15 months— he had conducted himself very well with the exception of now and then getting drunk, and the previous day he was drunk, but he came in and had his dinner and went to bed, and went out again, and came in again and had his tea and went to bed again. There was nothing in his manner to excite suspicion that he contemplated suicide, he being the same as usual, quiet and reserved. The landlady had occasion to go upstairs about half-past eight o'clock, and found him hanging in his bed-room. She immediately called in a neighbour named James Corless, who cut the body down. He found the deceased had fastened his scarf to the top rail of his bedstead, and placed the noose round his neck. His weight had bent the rail so that his feet touched the ground; he was quite dead when found, but the body was still warm. He had undressed himself, and was only in his shirt and stockings.—A witness, named Kennedy, spoke to the deceased having been up to his house on Sunday afternoon, when he complained of being ill. He was in a state of intoxication, and appeared to be suffering from nervousness. He stayed about half an hour, and had something to eat. He seemed very much depressed in spirits and repeatedly said he did not know what was to become of him, and he thought he should be found dead in the streets. From the repetition of deceased's words and his apparent forgetfulness of having used the same words before, Mr. Kennedy thought the deceased's mind was affected, but only affected through the drink, for when sober he was rational enough.—Bryan Cumpsty, tailor, deposed that he had some conversation with the deceased, whom he had known for some 40 years. The conversation, which took place in Brockbank's-yard, in Church-street, about four o'clock on the day that he committed suicide, was upon general matters, but deceased complained of being very poorly, and said he did not know what he should do, but he thought he would have to go to the workhouse. He was very much depreseed in spirits, and witness told him to cheer up and go to work again, when deceased left him, saying he would do his best. A verdict of "Temporary insanity, through incessant drinking," was returned. Brigluu Young is said to be shocked at the discovery that several of his wives exhibit an unmistakable tendency to flirt. The Kent Herald says that the following is a literal copy of a document forwarded to an unsuccessful Conservative candidate at one of the Cinque Ports at the late general election Mr.—Dr. to— To wearing your colours one week and attending at the poll at—and voting for you . . . £lO. . A pauper has committed suicide at Caupar by cutting his throat with a piece of glass which he had taken from a window. The. Loudon police are persevering with the bettino•' —prosecutions. Three leading commission agents and their staffs were on Saturday taken before the magistrates, and remanded. The French Atlantic cable was spliced to the shore end, at Brest, on Sunday night, and the line is now being paid out by the Great Eastern, which began her work on Monday morning. According to the latest report all was going on well, with most favourable weather. An agricultural journal anticipates a rather late harvest, that is, three weeks or a month later than last year, and a yield of wheat and barley somewhat below an average; an average, however, being possible if we should have a settled sunny July. A woman 81 years of age, a tramp, was charged before the Chesterfield magistrates on Monday with having been drunk and riotous. She appeared to be in a very destitute condition. The magistrates, in consideration of her extreme age, dismissed her upon her promising to leave the town. THE \Armin