Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1883-03-03 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

SUICIDE OF A COUNTY COURT DAIIIFF.  Mr. G. Collier has held an inquiry at the Town Hall, Shoreditch, London, relative to the death of John Walter, aged 70 years, who had for the last thirty years acted as bailiff to the Shoreditch County Court. Evidence was given to show that the deceased had appemol strange in his manner for many years pant, principally from his indalging in habits of intoxication. Emily Shields, deceased's housekeeper, stated that as he did not appear on a given day, she went to find him, and now him hanging to the banisters by a stout piece of cord. She called a gentleman named rargiter, who cut him down. He had been lately very strange in his manner, and, she believed, very short of money, an for the last eighteen months he had been too ill to discharge his duties in the county-court. He had also been pronounced incurable by the doctor. Richard George Clark, clerk in the Shoreditch County Conrt, said the deceased had been run over by a cab in Dalston in 1881. His arm was broken, and he was then reduced in salary, from £2 to 150. per week, there being no funds out of which to pay him, and tile secretary ref using any allowance. In November last, he (witness) drew up a memorial lathe Lords of the Treasury stating that John Walter had been run over in the {lnformatics of his duty, and so mriously injured as , to be unable to follow his duff.; that he was 69 years of age, and that he had been in the service of the Court for thirty-five years, during which time his wages had ranged from 255. to £2; that he had no private means, and asking for some grant by way of pension. On January 2nd last an answer was received declining to accede to the request. Deceased had been greatly depressed on the receipt of the refusal, and this the witness had no hesitation in saying had caused him In commit suicide. The jury found "That the deceased committed suicide while of unsound mind, and that the said insanity was brought about, or largely aggravated, by the conduct of the Lords of the Treasury in refusing him a pension after so many years spent in the public service." The coroner stated that he could not accept the finding of the jury as worded, as it would look like a censure upon an important body, who might have a perfect answer. At present he felt that the action of the Lords of the Treasury had, perhaps, induced the unfortunate act, but they must not publicly an state unless they gave that body an opportunity of explaining their refusal, for which they must have had ground.. The jury said that they were strongly of impression that the deceased should have had some provision made for him after thirty-five years' service, nod thought the reduction from £2 to 15s. was a most unjust one, and hoped at leant that the coroner would communicate that to the proper authorities. The coroner mid he would not even go so far as that, bathe would adjourn the inquiry if they pleased, and he had no doubt the case would reach the ears of the Lords of the Treasury, through the medium of the press. The jury said this would satisfy them, and withdrew their original rider.