Suicide of Brewery Cooper (1897)

Post date: Sep 28, 2017 3:17:31 PM

In the Church vestry is held a scrap book with newspaper cuttings marked "in Memory of Edgar Clarke-Smith". Some cuttings have a date handwritten beside them. Many are probably from the South Eastern Gazette. The following is believed to be from 24.8.1897:

WATERINGBURY

A COOPER'S SUICIDE.-An inquest was held by Mr. T. Buss (County Coroner), on Monday evening, August 16th, at The Duke's Head, on the body of John Steel, aged 59, of Pizen Well, Wateringbury. Deceased, who was well known in the district, was a cooper by trade, and had worked at both of the local breweries. Mr. Amos Baker was chosen foreman of the jury. The first witness called was deceased's son-in-law, J. Simmons, who identified the body. Witness last saw deceased alive about a month ago. At that time there were disturbances between deceased and his wife, the latter afterwards leaving him. Since then the deceased had done no work and had drunk excessively. Flora Huggett, a young girl, deposed that she was sent to deceased's house with a hat from her uncle, W. Attaway. Entering the house, which was open, she was much frightened by seeing deceased on the floor with blood flowing from him. She ran back to her uncle, who came and examined deceased, who was lying between the front and back door. He found that deceased was then dead. Witness locked up the house and communicated with the police. P.C. Page corroborated, and also stated there were two razors on the table, one being covered with blood. The blood which had run from deceased's throat had formed quite a pool by the door. Witness also found a note on a half sheet of paper lying on the table. In this deceased asked God for forgiveness, and said that his head was bad, The style of the letter showed deceased's unbalanced state of mind. After hearing the medical evidence of Dr. Houghton Brown, the jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst temporarily insane."