The Telegram. — 1894-03-06 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

BIAPERTON.  SHOCKING SUICIDE OF A GUARDIAN. "LIKE A MADMAN."  On Tnesday evening, Mr. E. Q. Louch (coroner) held an inquest on the body of Daniel Trent, farmer, and a guardian of the poor of the parish of Mapertora, who committed suicide by cutting his throat on Saturday. The inquiry was held at the house of the deceased, and Mr. Charles Ashford was chosen foreman of the Jury. The first witness called was Supt. Williams, who said. On Thursday evening, at 10 o'clock, I beard someone outside the police-station. I went and found deceased with an open clasp knife in his right hand. I asked him what he wanted, and he said be was going to cut his throat. I took the knife from him and took him in the station. I asked him where he came from and he said Maperton and that he was going to shoot his wife and children if he could get some powder and shot. I thought he was under the influence of drink, and asked him if he would go home if I sent some one with him. He said, " Don't send me home or I shall be sure to shoot soy wife and children for they are starving. Hell and destruction are in front of me." I had a cell made comfortable and locked him up upon the , charge of wandering abroad whilst in an unsound mind. I He said he had got into water to drown himself and I someone had pulled him out, lie continued "like a . inadman'" all night, and got no better. On the following morning he was brought before a magistrate and examined by Dr. Scallon, and was discharged on his wife and brother pmrnising to take care of him. He left the station at 12 o'clock on Friday. On Saturday I heard that he had attempted to commit suicide. William Treot, who lives at Woolston, about two miles distant, brother to the demised, said : I was at Wincanton on Friday, and took charge of my brother on his being discharged by the magistrate. I brought him home on Friday. He was quieter, and drove part of the way himself. He came into the house, and I talked to him and persuaded him to go to bed. This was between six and seven o'clock in the evening. I then went home, promising deceased to COUlt again in the morning. I came next morning about nine o'clock and heard from his brother's wife that he had had a better night. I went into the yard, where I soon after , heard a scream. I looked in the bedroom mid could not find him, and I then went to the cheese room door, but I could not get in. The bedroom is at one end of the house and the cheese room at the other. Deceased's boy went into the room, nod I saw deceased lying on the floor in his blood. The toy went at once for a doctor. My brother did not use any threats after be was brought home. lie was not dead when Dr. Scallon came, but lived for some time afterwards. He died about half-east six. As far as possible dangerous weapons had been removed from deceased. Sergeant Fairchild deposed that on Saturday morning he saw Frank Coward at Wineanton. who told him his master had cut his throat. Witness came at once, and found deceased being attended to by Dr. Scallon. lie remained with deceased until he died, about 5.30 the same day. Dr. Scallon handed him a knife (produced), which was found near the deceased by his son. 'I he boy told him that he picked up the knife in the cheese room close by his father. Deceased never spoke after witness arrived. William Pitman, farmer, who lives close by the house of deceased, said that in consequence of what he heard he caine to the house on Saturday morning and went upstairs to ' the cheose-rm,a). He saw deceased lying on the floor. There was a wound iu his neck. around which witness tied a ..1.411. He bad only a shirt and trousers on. De .ease') said, " What are you going to do with me I " and witness said, " right." -Mr Day came in abo st half-an-hour. He remained till the doctor came. Witoess as.d Mr. Day removed deceased to a bedroom, and remained with him till he died. He had known deceased for about a year, but never suspected that he would commit suicide. The coroner said it was a tiler ar of regret that the deceased had nut been kept longer in re ...faint until the mania had passed away. The fury returned& verdict to the effect that e ::ertsed committed suicide during a fit of temporary insanity