The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1885-10-17 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

SAD SUICIDE OF A BIRKENHEAD MAN.  On Monday, at noon, Mr. Henry Churton, County Coroner, held an inquest at the Black Horse Hotel, Wallasey, on the body of John Griffith, aged 43 years, ship's carpenter, lately in the employ of Messrs. Laird Brothers, Birkenhead, and who resided at 14, Huskissonstreet, Birkenhead, whose dead body was found on the Wallasey Sandhills on Saturday afternoon.  John Henderson, a young man residing at 3, Mill-lane, Liscard, stated that on Saturday afternoon about three o'clock he was crossing the Wallasey Sandhills when he came across the dead body of a man lying on the ground. He noticed that there was a wound in the throat. Witness did not disturb the body but gave information to the police. P.C. James Hunt said that on Saturday afternoon, from information he received, he went to the Sandhills and there found the body of the deceased. It was quite warm, and on examining the body he found a wound on the left side of the neck about an inch long. The wound appeared to be a very deep one. There was a quantity of blood lying near the body and on the arm. On searching the place he found the pocket knife produced lying about three yards from the body. It was stained with blood. He obtained assistance and conveyed the body to the Black Horse Hotel, where it was subsequently identified. Mary Elizabeth Forden, said she was housekeeper to the deceased, whose wife died on Saturday week leaving six children, the eldest being ,ten years of age. Witness was engaged by the deceased's wife to look after the children and the house during her accouchement. The deceased's wife died a week after that occurrence, and witness had been looking after the house ever since. She last saw the deceased alive on Saturday morning at half. past eight. He went out of the house saying that he was going to arrange things and see about taking a smaller house, and that he would be back soon. He also stated that he was not going to work that day. He had been very depressed since his wife's death. He had never threatened to do any harm to himself. He had had a " bother " with some person named Lloyd, who had sent him a lawyer's letter, and this appeared to upset him. Mr. Britain, foreman in the employ of Messrs. Laird Brothers, said the deceased had been in Messrs. Laird's employment for the last twenty seven years. He was a steady respectable man, but was of a very nervous temperament. He had been rather depressed lately. The Coroner, at this stage, said he thought it unnecessary to pursue the enquiry any further. There was no doubt that the deceased's recent terrible losses and troubles had effected his mind, and that he had committed suicide. The position of the wound showed that death must have been instantaneous.  The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst suffering from temporary insanity."  Patent Fees Greatly Reduced International Patent, Designs and Trademarks Office, Harvey-buildings, James- street, Liverpool. Capital procured, patents sold, inventors advised. _  -- ----R EAD Tnis.—The City Drug Company, 26, London-road, Liverpool (just below Ray and Miles) supply all medicines, drags and patents at wholesale prices for cash. Call for price list.  The beat place for the latest and most choice patterns in Menu Cards, Guest Cards, Ball Programmes, Wedding Invites, and all kinds of fancy and complimentary stationery is the Birkenhead News Office. Just Out. "The Wonder of the Age."