William Henry Colbourne Carter 1851-1879
Distressing Suicide of a Bridgnorth Man – The Wellington Journal and Shrewsbury News July 5 1879
An Inquest was held Last week at the Eagle Tavern, Spring-Back, Hull, before Mr. J. J. Thorns, coroner, touching the death of Mr. William Henry Colborne Carter (son of Mr. William Carter, Hospital Street Bridgnorth) who was supposed to have committed suicide. The jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was taken Miss Alice WIggington, 99, Peel-street, Hull. identified the body as that of her brother-In-law, who was 28 years of age. He was an assistant In the Hull and East Riding College. Witness had been visiting at the house since last January. Deceased was a very studious man, and worked very hard after school hours, especially lately. He was reading up French, and proposed passing an examination. Though he never talked much he had for the last few weeks been more depressed, and had suffered from gathering in the ears, which caused great pain. Almost every evening be used to take chloroform, and lately this practice had been constant. When deceased retired to his room be generally locked himself in. During the last week the depression bad greatly increased, and deceased used to sit in the drawing room alone. On Friday he looked very ill, and was no better on Saturday. The house was infested with rats, and deceased had talked about sending for some Battle's Vermin Killer. Witness saw deceased go upstairs about seven o'clock on Saturday evening. Between seven and eight Mrs. Carter went upstairs and knocked at her husband's door, but he took no notice. A little later Mrs. Carter went again with the same result, witness saying that he would perhaps be angry If they disturbed him. About ten o'clock witness forced open the door, when they found Mr. Carter fully dressed, and lying on the bed with his face downwards. A handkerchief was lying on his face, and he was quite dead. Subsequently Dr. Gibson arrived. Sellna Knight, a little girl who lived at the house as servant, stated that at about 6.30 on Saturday evening her master said to her. "Fetch me threepennyworth of Battle's Vermin Killer". Witness went to Mr. Walton, chemist, obtained the powder, and returned with It to Mr. Carter, who was waiting in the dining-room. Mr. W. 0. Walton, chemist, Spring bank, deposed to selling the powder to the last witness. The usual entry was made in the sale of poisons book, the girl's signature being attached. There would be about 16 grain, of powder to the packet, about as much as would lie on a shilling, and the quantity of strychnine would be about two grains. Deceased had bought chloroform at witness' shop. He had frequently talked to deceased, and be believed him to be well acquainted with chemistry; indeed, when the chloroform was sold witness thought It was for some experiments. Dr. Henry Gibson said he was sent for on Saturday night, and saw deceased between and eleven. Mr. Carter had evidently just died. The muscles were very rigid, as from tetanic spasms. There was a bottle containing about an ounce of chloroform in the room. Witness made a post-mortem examination on the previous day. The brain, heart, and lungs were perfectly healthy. The stomach contained bread and butter, together with a considerable amount of blue powder, which be recognized as ' Battle's Vermin Killer'. An analysis indicated the presence of strychnine. Deceased bad Inhaled some chloroform, and he had evidently done this with his knowledge of anatomy that It would to some extent allay the tetanic spasms caused by strychnine, one grain of which was quite sufficient to kill two, if not three persons. Death was undoubtedly caused by strychnine. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased committed suicide whilst temporarily insane. Mr. W. 0. C Carter had recently obtained a higher situation at Chesterfield, for which place he was preparing to leave Hull. The body of the deceased was Interred on Wednesday week in the sacristy of Scalcostes Church, and was followed by his relations and friends, the clergy, the principal, vice-principal, and the whole of the college staff. Great sympathy Is felt in Bridgnorth for the bereaved parents of the deceased.
Author
Topic: Bridgnorth Shropshire (Read 1525 times)