Pontypridd Observer 8 June 1907: Inquest on the Body of Mr Vazie Simons [my great-uncle]
Mr R.J. Rhys, Coroner, Aberdare, held an inquest on Monday touching the death of the late Mr Vazie Simons, the well-known solicitor who was found in his chambers, Market Square, Pontypridd, on Saturday last shot near the heart.
The evidence of Mr Sidney (sic) Simons, Mayor of Merthyr, who was much grieved, was to the effect that the deceased was 48 years of age and lately resided at Bradford Place, Penarth. He left a widow and three children. Witness last saw him alive at Tredegar about a month ago but had since had no communication with him.
In answer to the Coroner, witness said he personally did not know anything about any depression his brother had lately suffered. He had lately lost a very important appointment, which he held, and that gave him a great deal of trouble and anxiety. He never knew the deceased to have a revolver in his life, neither was he in the habit of going about with one in his pocket. He had been abroad in Australia and might have carried one there.
Mr W Upham, a clerk in the deceased's employ, spoke to seeing his late chief coming to the office on Saturday morning. Witness went into the room three times, but the deceased never spoke to him. He had been very quiet during the last few days and different to usual. Witness did not hear the report of a firearm but his fellow-clerk shouted to him and when he rushed into the deceased's room, he saw him sitting in his chair with the revolver on the blotting pad. Deceased lived for about four minutes but did not speak. Witness had never seen a revolver with the deceased and was not aware that he carried one.
Mr James Taylor, chief clerk, states that he had a conversation with his master that morning and he appeared to be very rational. Witness, however, knew that he had been depressed for some days. Witness heard a report of a pistol and on going into the room saw Mr Simons in his chair. He immediately telephoned for medical assistance.
Inspector Salter said when he got to the office, the deceased, who was being supported by his clerk, was quite dead. He examined the body and found a bullet mark in the region of the heart. The revolver (produced) was on the table directly in front of the deceased with one of the five chambers discharged.
The Coroner (inspecting the weapon): It is quite a new revolver. Have you any information where it has been bought?
Inspector Salter: No, but it has not been bought at Pontypridd.
Dr Shaw Little, Cilfynydd, described a small circular wound in the left breast. The wound had lacerated edges and there must have been a considerable laceration of the lung tissue to account for the profuse bleeding. The bullet appeared to have just missed the heart, but it was difficult to say definitely what direction it had taken. The vest was blackened and torn, and in his opinion the wound must have been self-inflicted.
The Coroner, in directing the jury, said that he always thought in cases of that nature that the least said the better. They had the fact that the two clerks heard the report, and immediately after found the deceased dying in his chair; and Dr Lyttle (sic) had told them that the wound was self-inflicted. The brother had informed them that the deceased had just lost a very important appointment which had made him depressed and it was for the jury to say whether that was sufficient to justify them saying that the deceased was of unsound mind.
The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity" and the foreman, Mr Roddy, expressed sympathy with the bereaved family.
The Coroner joined in the expression of condolence, adding that it was his business to be in the midst of trouble, but in this case he felt it more particularly because he had known deceased since he was a lad.
