Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
Newspaper
Articles
The Devon Evening Express. Thursday 10 May 1883
Page 1 Column 3
SUICIDE AT CLYST ST. MARY.
George BRAUND, a mason's labourer, committed suicide on Monday, in a hay-loft, belonging to Mr. BURGOINE, by hanging himself to a beam. About half-past five o'clock, a man, named Charles(?) GOSLING, went to the hay-loft, and there saw the deceased hanging to a beam by his neck. A piece of cord was tied round the left wrist, the end of which was hanging down. GOSLING immediately ran for assistance, and also for a knife, with which he cut the body down. A policeman came, and the body was taken to the Half Moon Inn. An inquest on the body was held yesterday at the Half Moon Inn, Clyst St. Mary, before the Deputy Coroner, Mr. C. E. COX. Charles GOSLING, a carter, in the employ of Mr. BURGOINE, stated that he knew the deceased. The deceased was aged 32. Witness last saw him alive about mid-day in Mr. BURGOINE's yard, where he was repairing some walls. The deceased asked him for his firkin to drink, and seemed to be “very low.” Witness did not suspect that the deceased would commit suicide. About half-past five o'clock the same day witness went into Mr. BURGOINE's stable loft, and there saw the deceased hanging to a beam by his neck. A piece of cord was tied round the left wrist, the end of which was hanging down. Witness ran for assistance and cut the body down. A policeman was fetched, and the body was removed to the Half Moon Inn. The deceased was a single man. Robert BRAUND, father of the deceased, stated that during the latter part of last week his son appeared to be in a rather low state. On Monday morning, before he left home for his work, he said, “I have a minute to spare,” and went into his mother's bedroom to look at her. By a juryman: I noticed that the deceased was looking very strange the other day, when he ran across the road to me and said, “Mother is a shade better to-day.” Witness said he knew nothing that could trouble the deceased except his mother's illness. The Coroner having summed up the evidence, the jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased committed suicide while temporarily insane.