Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1892-03-19 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

THE INQUEST.  On Tuesday forenoon an inquiry into the circtirn• stances attending the death was beH at the Country Rouse Inn, Hipperholme, before Mr. J. E. Hill, dPputy coroner. The following comprised the jury :—Messrs. Wm. firear (foreman), W. Travis, S. Smith, J. Taylor, W. Lindley, Q. Constance, J. ,Tagger, L. Goodyear. S. Aspinall, A. Hanson, W. Newcombe, F. Wood, and J. Rooth. Sergeant Marshall and P.C. Jackson were also present. Mb jury having been sworn, proceeded to view the body, after which the witnesses were called, the first being SARAH JANE BRYAN, who stated that she was the wife of deceased, who was a cooper and was 36 years of age, and she ref.i led in Birk-lane, Ripperholmc. Her husband had been low-spirited for many montns, off and on, but he had never said anything to her about dying. She last saw him alive at 10 30 on Sutolay morning, when he left her. She was ill in bed at the time. Re went out and said he was going to drown himself, and she replied 'What nonsense.'  In answer to questions by the CORONER, WITNESS said her husband had never made threats like that before. He did not bid her 'good-bye,' He had formerly been in the navy, and had a pension on being discharged owing to being sunstruok at a foreign station. He had not been addicted to heavy drinking. They were not really poor, but in had circumstamps, owing to deceased being out of work, WILLIAM GIBSON, signalman, of Hipnarholme, was the next witness examiner+, an .1 said he was employed as a signalman on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, Stone Siding Cabin, Hipperholm... He saw deceessri at 210 on the previous Sunday afternoon en the line walking towards Halifax. He saw him from his house; at that time deceased was about 10) yards away. He (witness) was not on duty at the time but in his borne, which is si tilted on the line near Beacon Hill Tunnel. He called out to Brian 'Where are you going 1' and he replied lam going to liipperholme.' Witness followed him and crossed over on the same side. At the same time a train was approlahlog towards Halifax, and decease" dtliberately faced the train and threw himself in front of the engine. The train was close no to deceased when he threw himself on the rails.  The FOREMAN What rare Wee the train going at f WITNESS : Well, I Could not tell. It had just Warted from Li ipperbol me, and was g(ing at a fairly good rate.  FOREMAN: Did the train stop afterwards ? WITNESS : Yes, the train stoppAd, an I I went up to deceased, who was quite dead, an I would be about 200 yards from the tunnel month.  In answer to a JURYMAN, WITNESS said the body was in tn.-I Southowram liart of tr,e diA FOREMAN : Was he witbout Ili hat WITNESS: fle was witlont his bat and shoes whf.n I found him.  In answer to further questions, he said his trousers were wet, and he had evidently been on his back in water. Deceased facied the enaine when it approaohed. His intention in going after Bryan was to wire him as a trespasser. HANNAH DRAKE, housekeeper, of Hipperbolme, staled that she assisted to lay out the body of deceased. Ills heal was entirely crusbed, all V e hones being smashed. There were no other marks of injury: In answer to a JURYMAN, WITNESS raid his clothes were wet, and he had evidently been in the water.  The CORONER (to the jury): I dare Bay von have made up your mind as to the verdict. It is evident be committed suicida, and it only remains as to the state of nig mind at the lime.  The following verdict was then returned : Suicide whilst temporarily insane.'