Swansea Journal and South Wales Liberal. — 1895-02-16 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

DISTRESSING SUICIDE AT PENCLAWDD.  A distressinc, case of suicide has just thrown the district of distressing into a state of consternation. On Wednesday morning a young man named William Harry, of Llanmorlais, was discovered to have hangtd himself. He had been rather out of sorts for some time past, but it was not expected he would do anything in this way, and it is a sad blow to his relatives, who are highly respected, 4nd'with whom much sympathy is felt. Trade depression had seriously affected the mind of the unfortunate man, who, it is said, has attempted suicide several times before, and has been regarded as of somewhat unsound mind.  The inquest on the body of Mr, Wm. Harry, colliery proprietor, of Llanniorlais, was held at the Crofty Inn, Llanmorlais, on Thursday ahernoon, before Mr. Edward Striek (district coroner) and the usual jury. The body of the deceased, it will be remembered, a as found hanging at his house on Wednesday morning. He was connected with the Morlais Vale Colliery, and it was thought that the explosion which recently occurred in this colliery affected the poor fellow's mind. Wm. Harry, engine-driver, Llanmoriais, was the first witness called. Ho stated that the deceased, who was 51 years of age, was his father. He was a blacksmith by trade, though he had a share in the Morlais Vale Colliery. He had been in very good health, but as regards his state of mind he had been very much depressed of late, probably because the , colliery did not pay. They 'had not, however, the least idea that deceased ivould commit suicide. Witness saw him last alive on Wednesday morning about six o't lock. He was then, apparently, going to work at the Penlan colliery, where he was employed as an under-manager. Witness, however, left the house before him. Shortly after noon witness was fetched home, and he found his father (lc .d.  13,7 a Juror: Witness did not detect anything unusual in him father's manner or conversation in the morning. P.C. David Lewis Jones, stationed at Penclawdd, deposed to visiting deceased's house in Llanmorlais. He was there told that the body of the [deceased was in the w.c. in the garden. Witness went there and having burst the door open, found the body hanging by means of a small cord (produced) attached, one end to the beam above, and the other fastened around Mr. Harry's neck, Deceased was in a half kneeling position his toes touching the ground. Beside the body were deceased's tea can and food, that he usually took to the colliery, Witness was informed by Mrs. Harry that she found the body about eleven o'clock that morning. She was not present at that inquiry, because of illness. Dr. Benj. Jones, of Penclawdd, stated that he had known tha deceased for about eight years. For the past twelve months witness bad noticed that the deceased was depressed a little, though not to such an extent as to cause alarm, About two months ago witness prescribed some , medicine for indigestion, but bad not attended him since that time. From what witness knew of the deceased he (Mr. Harry) must have committed suicide whilst temporarily insane, brought on by depression of spirits. There were no marks of violence about the body except the cord-mark on the neck, Death was due to suffocation.  A verdict of suicide whilst temporarily Insane was returned by the jury without hesitation.  Henry Richard Aspinal, aged 25, has died at Liverpool from syncope, ensuing from over i : exertion n a wrestling match.