Widnes Examiner. — 1900-04-20 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

A SUICIDAL MANIA AT WARRINGTON.  A Dose of Carbolic Acid.  Mr. Brighouse cenducted inquiries at Warrington on Tuesday into the circumstances attending the deaths of three persons who had committed euicida whilst of unsound minas. The first was that of John Smith, 39 years of age, a wiredrawer, residing at 10, New-street, who died at his residence at 4 p.m. on Thursday last week from the effects of carbolic acid p lisoning. It appears that deceased had been suffering from the illeffects of rheumatic fever which afflicted him in October last. At 7.30 a.m. on Thursday the deceased got up and went downetairs. Shortly afterwards his wife followed him and found him lying on the sofa, moaning and unable to swak. Dr. McCarthy was called in and attended the deceased until his death, which took place at the time already indicated. The deceased's wile on going into an outhouse found a bottle containing carbolic acid. The decaased's lips and mouth p eseated the appearance of his having taken some acid. Dr. McCarttey stated that the deceased was under hin care in October wLen be was suffering from rheumatic lever. He was called in to sea him on Thursday last week. He did not suspect that the deceased had taken carbolic acid at that time. Deceased died the same afternoon. Assisted by Dr. Bowden, witness made a post mortem examination. There was a mark on the deceased's lips and chin about two inches long. On opening tte body there was a strong smell of carbolic aeid.—The cause of death was carbolic acid poisoning. The deceased's heart was twice as large as tho normal S  A verdict of •'Suicido whilst cf unsound mind " was returned.  An Ironworker Shoots Himself.  An inqeest was subsequently held on the body of Thomas Nolan, 31 years of age, an ironworker, of 15, Fairclough's-avenue, who died from the effects of a pistol shot early last Friday morning. The Ceroner read the police report from which it appeare I that the deceased went to the house of his father-in-law, John Riley, general labourer, of 15,Jamesstreet, on 'thursday evening under the influence ef drink. Be had then with him a revolver which he toyed with all the evening and he also produced a number of cartridges stating that be would put a shot into his head. About one o'clock in the morning the deceased went into the yard and immediately afterwards, the report of a pistol shot was heard. Riley hurried out and found deceased lying with his head resting on the ash-tub, apparently dead. Tne matter was reported to the police and on Sergeant Williamson and P.C. Bruen going to the house, tee deceased was found to be quite dead with a bidet wound the right temple. A revolver lay at his feet and coneained eue spent carridge. The deceased had been in ery low spirits for same time. Mr. T. Daintith, gunsmith, of Bridge-street, stated that the eec3ased bought the revolver produced, which was a cheap one, on Thursday evening. He did not buy Any cartridges. He came baek again at about 9 o'clock in a drunken condition. He said that he wanted some certridges. Witness gave him half-a-dozen " blanks." He wanted to see one shot so they discharged one in the workshop. Witness was under the impression that the man picked a ball cartridge up from the counter whilst his (witness's) back was turned. Sergeant Williamson stated that on Friday morning lee was called to the house of deceased's father-in-law. He fouod the deceased had a bullet wound in his right temple. A s.x-cLambered revolver which contained one spent cartrldeo was by his side. _ _  A vadict of "suicide whilst of unsound mind "was returned. 

Article type: Incident