Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1877-01-19 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

BVILESHOT. SUICIDE  An Inquest wee held at the County Prison on iridar on the body of Joseph Davis, who had committed suicide. It was held before Mr. Aldermen Lock (deputy-coroner), and Mr. J. B. Taylor was the foreman of the jury, who were—Messrs. 7. P. Bounds', H. Lewis, j. Harrington, H. T. Benda, W. Garland, H. W. Bigler, T. Hawker, T. RogsrsO. Parsons, and It Mint On being sworn a juryman obleoted that he was eligible on the pound that he was not a householder. The coroner asked tura if he was of age, and a resident of Dorchester. Being answered in the tire, he told Mai that warn quite sufficient. The body the deceased presented C very placid appearance. The throat was bound round, but it was apparent he had beep half starved...  —A son-Of &maned, a labourer, of Rampisham, stated his father had been livhig in that parish by hitheelf—f under the sande roof, but in a overate apartment He had lived there about seven or eight years, and he had witnessed nothing peculiar in him until within the last fortnight or three weeks, when they could see there was a difference. He seemed in a low condition and they ammaintsd Mr. Payne, the relieving officer, with it, c/n the previous Thursday deceased told his son he should not live long; but they paid no attention to this, as they did not know he had anything about him with which to commit suicide. Dineesed had been twice confined in the Asylum, and had also been in the Beaminster workhouse. He had received help from his brother, and also from the union; but that, said the witnees, it was "took up"—he was obliged to go to the "public" to get his food, and some said it was 00 get drink, and that was_ the reason it  71 Re was 64 years of ags.Mii-il;e-friday monolog abe deceased commenced beating the door which itsperated the bedrooms of himself and his son, who mat up for his brother ash, thought there was " something different" . Before, however, he arrived the decamped came out of the house with his throat cut, and fell down. His son assisted him, end carried him into •their own dwelling,, and then Dr. Clapcott was sent for. He was generally distracted ire his eonveriaticsi. In reply to the Foreman, the son said he never would have anyone to do for him ;be never had nothing cooked. He eled him what lay in his power; but he had a family, and there was azt deal of., sickness in the place. He had often " stu in his room for two or three at a time. The ?old officer knew as well as he what statte he was in, and never Offered to relieve him. He was offered to go into the "house," but refused to do so.  Dr —eleven* in his evidence, said the deceased had a most frightful wound in his throat—the windpipe and the gullett both largely open. He poured a little water into e throat, which came out again through the wound in the throat' like a broken pitcher." He sewed it up and dressed it He wee lying on • miserable floor. The bed was composed of chaff dust There was no change of linen. He (the doctor) wanted a blanket from the son and a pillow, but there wail none to 'be had. He bad only one suit of clothes, very dirty, and no change of linen Be gave him some brandy and  water, and in the evening saw him again. On that morning he sent • messenger to Croscoinbe to acquaint the relieving officer with the state be was in. He did not see him afterwards until the next morning, when he. was in the hands of the police. He was very stubborn, and said he wanghtioddiii ; and being asked if he thought he was after to commit suicide, he said it didn't matter, as he was to to do so, and he felt he ought to, and continually day and night something had told Mm he must. The doctor had not the slightest doubt that the deceased was out of his mind. The wound bad evidently been inflicted by a razor, and the deceased had said that was the instrument with which he had done it. On the Monday, as he seemed better, the doctor thought he had better be removed out of the misbrable place in which he was lying. There was no acute disease. On the previous Tuesday he was in the same state as he had. been for years. Mr. Lawrence, governor of the gaol, deposed to the admission of the deceased into the prison on Wednesday. He died at six on that day. lie (the governoi) felt he should not be doing what wee just were he not to bear witness to the exceeding anxiety eithibitect by the Sergeant in the case, and the kind and great attention he had pail to the deceased. Dr. Good, the surgeon of the gaol, spoke to the extreniii state of emaciation and exhaustion In whichlthe found him. The wound in his throat was large enough for him to put his four fingers in. Everything wit' done to rally Undoubtedly he died from the wound accelerated by starvation; he had been a lunatic for years—whoin some one ought to have looked after. 'the had not been half starved Dr. Good did not believe he would have died, or, at all events, so sale He ought not to have been left in a; hotuie with himself, and no one to look after him (no matter whose duty it was.) The Ooroner, in summing up, dwelt briefly upon the distressing nature of the case, as bad a one as there coed be in so far as human misery was concerned. To him it appeared the relieving officer had somewhat neglected his duty, for he ought to have gone to the medical officer and given him the necessary certificate, which would have thrown the responsibility upon him. The Jury found that the deceased cut his throat in a lit of temporary insanity, and that death had been accelerated by starvation. They also expressed an opinion the relieving officer ought to have paid a little more attention. With this the Coroner .aid he quite agreed.  (M6;1o( the case—Allow a min to die of starvation in England. and send several thousands to help a bloodthirsty lot of wretched Turks !)