The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1889-05-17 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

STRANGE SUICIDE AT BRIDGEND WORKHOUSE.  THE INQUEST.  On Wednesday afternoon Mr E. B. Reece, coroner, held an inquest at the Workhouse, Bridgend, into the circumstances touching the death of Solomon Adams (60), who was found with his throat cut the same morning in the sick ward of the Workhouse, to which he had been admitted the previous evening. Mr Benjamin Messenger, master of the workhouse, said the deceased was admitted on Tuesday afternoon between four and five o'clock, from Llandyfodwg, under an order from the relieving officer. He was suffering from consumption, and was put into the sick ward. He seemed somewhat exhausted by the drive in the close carriage in which he was brought. He had been in receipt of out-door relief since October, and Caine into the workhouse at his own request. He heard in the morning that he had committed suicide during the night, and sent for Dr Randall, the medical officer of health.  Annie Davies, nurse to the Workhouse, said the deceased seemed a little exhausted after his journey. He went to bed immediately he arrived. The only nourishment he took was some milk. She saw him last alive between nine and ten o'clock in the evening. There were seven other men sleeping in the room besides the deceased. If he required attention during the night, any of the inmates would have given itto him ; but there was no one especially told off for the duty. One of the men came to her at about half-past six that morning, and said the deceased had cut his throat. She went to the ward and found the deceased in bed, lying straight on his back. She saw a knife on the bed by his left hand. There was a great deal of blood about. He was quite dead. He did not seem at all low or depressed when she spoke to him the previous evening. He was suffering from a slight cough. Edward Sheen, an inmate of the sick ward of the Workhouse, said he slept in the same room as Adams, next to him. He had very little talk with the deceased, who was very uneasy from his cough. He didn't hear him say anything especially about his condition of health. He (witness) did not go to sleep till about one o'clock the next morning. He awoke about four, and saw Adams lying very quiet in the bed. He got up and went to him, and found him quite dead, with his throat cut. The knife (produced) was by his left hand. He did not call any one till ahout six o'clock. He did not see the knife before. The Master here stated that the deceased had the knife in his possession, and offered it to him among other things when he was admitted in the evening. Sergeant Davies said he visited the Workhouse about ten o'clock that morning, having received information-of the occurrence. He saw the body The deceased was in bed, lying on his back, and the knife, which was near him, was covered with blood. There was a great gash in his throat. Dr Randall, medical officer of health, said he saw the body about eleven o'clock. He was lying in bed as described by the last witness. The body was stiff and cold, and he must have been dead several hours. There was an incision on the left side of the neck about three inches in length and another also of the same length beginning a little further back and extending to the larynx. There were also two small punctured wounds about a quarter of an inch in length. He had apparently made two prods at his throat and two cuts. None of the big vessels were cut. The body was very emaciated from some wasting disease, probably consumption. He had no doubt that the wounds were self-inflicted. Consumption not infrequently led to very great depression and despondency. He died from loss of blood caused by the wounds. A Juryman said the guardian of the parish should have made some explanation to the Board of the state of the man's mind. Mr Messenger stated that the man was brought in at his own request, and upon the certificate of the medical officer He received no intimation as to the state of the man's mind. A verdict of "Committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity" was returned.