The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1902-11-29 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

SHOCKING SUICIDE IN WHETSTONE LANE.  OLD MAN OF 74 SHOOTS HIMSELF.  The =aide on Thursday of an old_ gentleman named Fames Davies, resident in Whetstonelane, was investigated before Mr. A. F. Cotton, deputy-ooroner, yestaniay. The decasaed -man was aged 74, and shot himself in three places with a revolver. . . .  Elizabeth Belinda Davies, stated that she was the daughter-in-law of the deceased man, who had lived with her and her husband for the last five months, having retired from business some 20 yeses ago, and previously lived in Liverpool. He had recently been very strange in mind, and was subjoin to odd fancies. Dr. Knowles Wended him about six weeks ago and geld he wee suffering from indigestion, but she (witness) could not make opt what was the matter with him. He had strange ideas that people were ringing at the doer ball. On Thursday morning he ate • good breakfast and made no complaint , whatever, but between eleven and twelve he was tip and down stairs frequently. At • quarter. peas twelve he was upstairs, sal witness was getting ready to go out when she heard three reports. She wondered whatever he was doing, but came to the ocadusion he was driving Into the wall. She went upstairs however, and looked Into his room. She was alarmed at seeing him in bed, sad fearing something was the massr. sent for the husband, also looking for • policeman. Mr. Cotton : Did you pees what had happened ? Witness No; I never heard a revolver fired in my life before. He very often made different noWhy didn't you go into the room?-.I opened the dcor, but when I saw him in bed I thought there was something the matter. Did you know he had e, revolver f--No; I should never have allowed him to keep it: Did he ever threaren to do anything to himself f—No ; I never heard anything wrong with him. de had only hie strange fames. He was noe in monetary difficulties, or anything of that serif—Oh, no. &mad Percy Davies said that the deceased man was his father, and in consequence of his mange ways while he was livnni in Liverpool windmill arranged for him to live in Birkenhead. He had done this for the last five months. Mr. Cotton: How was he in hie mind Well, in .Liverpool be accused people of coming into his room and doing bodily harm; but in Budrenheed he seemed to be improved • little. For the last year or so he has been in bad health, but he improved lately. During his abases he use always worse than at any other time. Continuing, witness said his father bad no faith in doctors. He had heard be had • revolver some years ago, but never suspeeted he had one on Wednesday. Witness then detailed being seat for by his wife. About thirty year. ago his father fell down • hold on a ship end received internal injuries, and on Sunday last he complained of • • severe internal pain. P.O. Commit' said that at about tot minutes to twelve on Thursday morning the last winter O&M 10 him at Charing-cross and asked me to go his hone, as bethought his father had shot himself. Witness went. He found the deceased man lying on the bed with his shirt. singlet and socks on. A revolver was lying on the floor, as if it had dropped from the deceased man's hand. Two chambers were loaded; three had been discharged. There were three bullet wounds in his stomach, but as there was no mark on the shirt, the shots had not been fired through it. Dr. Temple deposed to baring bam celled in about noon. He found the deceased man lying on the bed with the revolver on the floor, • little distance from the bed. From She pon-mortem examination Its had made he found death due to the hots. Answering the coroner, he stated that the revolver had evidently been fired by the rilrbil hand, and not through the shirk The jury relearned a verdict of suicide while of unsound mind. •  Look in at (Massey's for the best value in movies and Provisions •