The Herald of Wales. — 1890-02-15 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

SWANSEA.  A YOUNG TRAVELLER SHOOTS HIMSELF.  the Otne House, Goat.strent, Swansea, one of the most respectable public houses in the boll, and which has been for yearn in the omit. PoPaon of Mr. Davies, who was recently elected symember of the Swansea County Council, was 'on Friday morning the scene of a somewhat tragic and certainly rery mysterious affair. Shortly after ten o'clock, Mr. Edwin Sheratt, a young man known to a large number of people in Swansea as a traveller for Messrs Rowe Brothers, oil and colour motehants, of Canon's Marsh, Bristol, walked into that part of the front bar known as the bottle and jug depart. anent, and called for a glass of brandy. He was well known to the barmaid, who eerved him, ant,to qaote her own words, she "did not notice there was anything the matter with him." fie bad been in the habit of visitier-'the house frequently, but fcr the last eight or ten months had not been seen there at aI. In explanation of lam visit be said to the barmaid, " I would not hero come in only I 1318 Maggie (the tervant) cleaning the window." All the time he talked quits rationally and cheerfully. The conversation was interrupted by the ringing of the smokeroom bell, which the bigsnaid proceeded to answer. She had not been absent • couple of minutes, when she heard • loud report coming from the direction of the bar, and hurrying thither, saw Mr. Sberatt lying against the partition. Tim landlord was immelistely on the scene, and found the revolver in his hand, and from the wound on the Mao of his head it was evident that the young traveller had shot himself. A messenger being dispatched to the Goat-street police sta. thin op alto, Sergeant Marks arrived and con. veyod eheratt to the station. /le was quite conscious and vohanteured the statement "It was accidentally done." The wound was examined by Dr. Forsyth, who advised the removal of tbe patient tothe Hospital, and a cab being procured this was immmethately done. According to the statement made Is our representative, bot h by Dr. Forsyth and the resident medical officer at the Hospital, Dr. Horatio Bawl:lags, it appears that Mr. Sheratt was, at the time of the occurrence, to some extent a. least, under the influence of intoxicants. It is stated that he host been indulging somewhat freely in drink ot late, though as a rule he was fairly sober and temperate in his titbits. Hs did not appear to be in the slightest degree 'intoxicated a few minutes before he shot himself. About five minutes to ten o'clock Mr. Blatehford, of the Western Mail office, spoke to him just outside Messrs. B. Evans said Co.'s sporting depot in Castle Bailey-street. He appeared then to be quits well and happy, and spoke of the fine weather, suggesting that the roadasbout Chepstow would now be very fine for bicycle riding. He had been touring with Mr. Blatchford on several occasions, mai was an enthusiastic cyclist. Mr. Edwin Sheratt is the eon of Mr. Sheratt, an inspector under the London and North Western Railway Company. He was several years in the employ of Mr. Bennett, of Fisher., street, as clerk, and then resided with his parents in Brunswick-street. Recently his father removed to Abergavenny, an that he has notbeen seen in Swansea so frequently of late. On Thursday night he put up at the Longlands Hotel, St. Helen's-road, though this was not the place at which be usually stayed. He tie young man of very gentlemanly appearance, and a host of friends, by wuias much esteemed.  The revt.,lver and cartridges were purchased at Messrs. B. Eva. mut Company's shop just after the converastion with Mr. Elate:ll.d related above. • • •  The ;young man, we learn, is recovering rapidly from the effects of his self-inflicted wound, and unless something unexpected happens he will soon be well again. He has, however, had a very narrow escape, for bad the bullet struck the head a very little distance below, death would certainly have ensued. As it was, the bullet did not touch the brain, being found by Dr. Rawlings lying flattened against the skull. As already stated, Mr. Sheratt was very popular in the town, and this is proved by the large number of people who have called at the hospital to make enquiries concerning his progress. They have not been I..ermitted to see him. Al the patient lies under the charge of having attemi ted to commit suicide, he will remain in the custody of a countable until the charge haa received judicial investigation.