The Poole Telegram. — 1880-03-12 (Poole, Dorset, England)

DISTRESSING SUICIDE,.  The people of Weymouth were greatly shocked on Saturday morning last at the news that Mr. Henry Hurdle, the well-known., provision dealer, of St. Edmund-street, had hung himself. The deceased had for some time been in a depressed state of mind, and had in a marked degree suffered from Ines of memory and total incapacity for business; notwithstanding this, however, his friendr-hai not the slightest idea he would have committed such an act, and, therefore, did not deem it necessairy to put him undr any restraint. The deed was effected by means of a double rope secured to the balusters and fastened round his neck by a runnim, noose. An alarm was quickly raised and assistance at hand to cut him down, but life was quite extinct.  if4QUEST Was held on Saturday evening at the Guildhall, before Mr. R. N. Howard (Mr. G. Symonds being unable to attend). The following gentlemen were sworn on the jury Messrs. H. A. Randall (foreman), L. Bartlett, C. Burdon, J. W. B ard, J. Case, J. Ames, S. Jackson, W. J. Newton, J. Staines, H. Billott. T. Hawkas, and C. Smyth. Mr. C. F. Arden represanted the friends of the deceased. The following evidenqe was adduce— Isabella Eaton said she was a servant in the employ of Miss Hurdle, St. Edmuad-street, and the deceased lived in the same house. That morning about eleven o'clock she a as in the bedroona making the 'Jeds, and on going to open the door of the drawing-room, she saw the deceased on the landing facing her. Seeing him she turned back and went into the bedroom. She did not, see him again until she saw him being cut down by the storemen.. She had seen him once before that morning, and had spoken to him. She did not notice any strangeness about him—in fact, she thought he looked as well as ever he did. The day before he did not get up until late in the aftemoon. She went into the drawing-roam about seven in the evening and found him siting in the dark, and without a fire. She asked him if she should light the fire, ad he said no. She did not see him again that evening. He had not been very well for some time.  In answer to the Foreman, the ,witneas si:-*/ when she saw the deceased standing on eat) landing ilia made no remark ,vbatever.  Thomas Hurdle, the nephew .4 the deceased, said he assisted in the business. This morning hs was at the store on the opposite side of tbs road. A little after 11 the daughter of the deceased Jame across and said her father had hart himself or was going to do so. He at once ran across th 3 road into the house and saw his uncle (the Zeceased) banging by a rope attached, to the balustoz. He imtaediately called out to their man George to get a knife to out the rope, and witness ran up the stairs to hold him up by his arms until the rope was cut. The ma-a inatnedialy brought the knife and cut the rope. There were no signs of life whatever. Dr. 'lizard was in attendance about three minutes from the time. The deceasad had been. unwell for over twelve months and at times a little strange in his manner. Of late be had been particularly strange, but not to such an extent as to lead them to think he would commit such an act as this. He had shown his strangeness by being very silent in matters of 'ausiness, very, depressed, and seemed not to take the interest that he need to du. He was about 51 years 9f age . _  jj reply to -Mr. Arden witness said deceased seemed, very vacant and suffered.Srom a loss of memory. George Cross, in the employ a Messrs. Hurdle, said, this morning about eleven o'clock he was in the stores and, saw Miss Hurdle call tlssa last witness. He followed them into the house, and saw the deceased hanging. Thor..-as, Hurdle called for a knkle to cut the rope, and he at once got it and cut him down. They laid the deceased on the stairs but he seemed to be gnite. dead. The rope was fastened with a running' noose. round the neck without a. knot. He only heard a slight noise in the throat when he loosened toe rope but no sign of breathing. Of late the deceased. had appeared very strange in his manner. Witness had been in his employ for 16 years. Of late he seemed very vacant and with no memory. He used to be a very active man of business, but he had not recently been able to attend to his business.  Dr. Tizard, medical practitioner, residing at Weymouth, said this morning about twenty minutes past eleven, when visiting a patient in St. Nary's-street, he was summoned to see the deaeaked. He at once went to him and found him lying ox the stairs. apparently quite dead. He used means to try and restore him, but lit was without effict. There was a deep purple mark extending around the back of the neck from the left ear to the rights and there was a large liscoloured patch under the right ear, caused by the pressure of the rope by which he had been suspended. The cause of death was suffocation, produced by strangulatior• At the Coroner s suggestion, the jury once returned a, verdict of " Tuoporary Insanity." 

Article type: Incident