Widnes Examiner. — 1905-11-18 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

SUICIDE OF MR. CHARLES HIOGINBOTTOM.  Tannery Secretary's Tragic End.  MM  A sensation wis occasioned in Warrington bv the news that Mr. Charles Higgiubottorn, Grappenhall road, Stockton Heath, secretary to Messrs. Arthur Waring and Co., Ltd.. tanners and buffalo hide and sizing merchants, Winwick-road, had committed suicide by hanging himself. The deceased who was widely known and highly respected had for some time suffered from depression of spirits. On Saturday night ho left his house and nothing further was seen of him until his body was found on Monday hanging from a beam in the tool-shed at the rear of the house. Some two years ago Mr. and Mrs. Iligginbottorn visited Harrogate for a holiday, and while shopping one morning Mrs. Higginbottom fall to the ground and became unconscious. She was picked up and taken to the hospital where she died. The sad event was a groat shock to her husband who has since suffered greatly from nervous depressson. Mr. Robert Dobson held the inquest on Tuesday afternoon at the Mulberry Tree Hotel, Stockton Heath, Mr. Jenkins represented the relatives of the deceased, and Mr. Willett dliss Turnock, the lady to whom, it is said, the deceased had recently become engaged. Frederick Ho ward,3B,Gra ppenhall-road,Stock ton Heath, said he was a groat friend of the deceased whom he saw on Sunday week, Deceased said he was not well and complained of his nerves. He slightly rambled in his speech. He was a gentleman of somewhat melancholic temperament. Eliza Margaret Bates, of 7, Carleton-street, said she was a friend of Mrs. Higginbottom (deceased's mother). Witness was at the deceased's house on Saturday. Mr. lligginbottorn seemed very strange; he had been very strange for a fortnight. Ele suffered a great deal from depression. He had never said anything which would lead to the supposition that he would take away his life. She last saw him alive in the dining-room at his house at four o'clock on Saturday afternoon. On Mon-. day afternoon she went into the garden when her atten tion WAS drawn to the door of the tool house being open. She weat in and se v the decessed hanging from a beam. She rushed away for the doctor and the police. Sergeant Barlow said he was called to Mr. Higginboitom's house on Monday afternoon. When he got to the tool shed he found Dr. Parker there and Mr. Howard. The body had bean suspended by the neck by a thin cord from the beam. Mr. Efigginbottom had every appearance of having been dead a couple of days. The Coroner, iu summing up, slid the deceased gentleman was much respected, and his death had been a great shock te all his friends. He had no doubt Mr. Higgin'eottom had committed suicide by hanging. He should not have pat it so plainly, but that there could be no two opinions about it. A juror (Mr. Dtliow) asked if the deceased left anything behind him. The Coroner said there was a letter of a very private character, but he had hoped the jury would have been able to come to a conclusion without referring to it. In the letter he said " May you and God forgive me this rash act." The jury returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide whilst of unsound raind. ! The Coroner and several jurors expressed their am In. pathy with the relatives, and Mr. Willett promised to convey these expressions.  CommtnerAL FATLllRES.—According to " Mercsntile Gazette," the total number of Commercial Failures recorded in England and Wales daring the week ending Friday, November 16th, was 189, viz. : Now bankruptcy proceedings published in the London Gazette, 92; deeds of arrangement registered, 97. The respective numbers in the corresponding week of last year were: Bankruptcies, 97; deeds of arrangement BG—total 183 ; being an increase of 6. The total number of commercial failures recorded during the 45 weeks of the present year is 7,710 ; the total number recorded in the corresponding 45 weeks of last year was 7,734, showing an increase of 6.