The Weekly Gazette for Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool and Cleveland District. — 1879-05-17 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SUICIDE OF AN OLD STOCKTON  TRADEBILAN.  Mr Coroner Settle held an enquiry at the Stockton Police Court on Friday week into the circumstances attending the death of Mr Guy Herbert. The deceased was a wellknown Stockton tradesman. At one time he carried on a diapery business in High-street, and subsequently became landlord of the George Hotel. Some time ago he severed his connection with the hotel, and commenced business as a coal merchant in the rear of the hotel. . .  Mrs Elizabeth Herbert, wife of the deceased, said her late husband had been quite an "altered man" for some months past. He had had much trouble and indulged too freely iii drink. At half-past seven on Saturday mottling, the 19th of April, he asked her to 111tbi4e him a cup of tea. Witness complied with his request, and the deceased, after drinking um tea, left the house with the remark that he should." be back soon." He did not return, however, and witness never saw him  again alive. She had no suspicion that deceased intended to commit suicide, although circumstances had previously occurred which led her to hoar that he might harm himself when under the influence of drink. On the day before the deceased left the house he was confined to his bed, and ws unable to take any solid food. Witness on that day discovered that the deceased had secreted a bread knife beneath the bed. She asked him what his object was in hiding the knife there, but the deceased refused to make any reply. Mr John Jubb, landlord of the Bolton House Inn, in Thistle Green, said the deceased entered his bar about quarter to eight on Saturday morning, the 19th of April. He was served with one glass of whisky, and left immediately after he had drunk it. Witness thought the deceased seemed perfectly I rational, as he bade witness 'good morning" on leaving, and said he should go home to breakfast.  Miss Elizabeth Harris, barmaid at the White Swan Hotel, in Silver street, gave evidence to the effect that the deceased went to the hotel about eight o'clock on the morning in question. She served him with a glass of whisxy, and alter remaining in the house about a quarter of an hour the deceased left. He seemed quite sober and sensible. John Boswell, a puddler, said that as he was fishing in the Tees opposite Thornaby Wood about twelve o'clock yesterday, he observed something dark moving at the bottom of the river a few yards from the bank. Ha at once cast his line towards the spot, and succeeded in hooking the moving object, which proved to be the body of Mr Guy Herbert. Witness and another man took the body down the river and landed it at Dixon's stage, whence it was conveyed to the dead-hoube.  Mr Edward Dickenson, grocer, High. street, now identified the body as-that of Mr Herbert. The deceased, in the course of conversation with Mr Dickenson, told him that "he had a load of troubles" to bear.  Detective-Sergeant Heslop deposed to searching the body and finding a number of . . _ .  papers Which left I o doubt as to the body being that of Mr Herbert.  _ The jury, after a few minutes deliberation, returned a verdict of "Found dead in the River Tees."