Sarah
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The North Devon Journal. Thursday 08 Oct 1936
Page 7 Column 6
BUCKS MILLS QUARRYMAN FOUND HANGING
The North Devon Coroner, Dr. Ellis PEARSON, conducted an inquest at Bucks Mills, on Monday, on Mr. George BRAUND, 64, a quarryman, of Bucks Mills, who was found hanging from a tree on Friday night.
Mrs. Ada BRAUND, the widow, said she last saw her husband at about 7.15 a.m. on the day of the tragedy, when he brought her up a cup of tea. He seemed quite his usual self, and told witness he was going to Police-Sergt. SOUTHWOOD at Hoops to sign a paper, and would have his breakfast when he returned. Witness heard him take in the milk and say he would take his stick. She expected her husband back to breakfast, and then to dinner, but she did not worry as she thought deceased was waiting for Sergt. SOUTHWOOD. At 4 o'clock she became disturbed, and told a neighbour that her husband had gone out at 8 o'clock and had not returned.
In company with another she went on the same road deceased had taken, but did not find him. The police were notified. Witness thought her husband might have gone done <sic> the cliff picking nuts and slipped, but she had no reason to think he might take his own life. He had been very comfortable, and she had never seen him in a temper. He did suffer from rheumatism, and had been under the doctor for the past ten weeks. When he woke up on the Friday morning he had complained of the pain, and remarked that the weather was changing.
Chas. Frederick BRAUND, a cousin, of Bucks Mills, said in company with others he searched all likely places where deceased might have had an accident. They took a route on the cliffs, and eventually found deceased on an unused path hanging from a tree by a piece of rope. Witness said he cut deceased down.
P.C. S. J. GAMMON (Hoops) said a search of deceased's clothing revealed an envelope with a message on it in pencil. Witness examined the ground, but did not find anything from which deceased might have stepped off. The bough from which the body was hanging was about seven feet from the ground.
Dr. M. W. LITTLEWOOD, of Bideford, said death was due to strangulation.
The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased had killed himself by hanging from a tree by a rope.