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Suicide of son

Source: Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times 16/06/1904       Date: 1904
Copyright:       Type: Newspaper
Description:

Transcript:
SUICIDE AT MACHYNLLETH. On Monday an inquest was held by Mr John Rowlands on the body of Henry Lewis, a native of Newcastle Emlyn, who was found hanging in a workshop on Sunday evening. Richard Jones, tailor, identified the body as that of Henry Lewis, who had been in his em- ploy as a tailor for some months. Deceased was about 26 years of age. Henry Lanham, an apprentice in Mr Richard Jones's employ, said he saw deceased about 4-30 on Sunday afternoon. Witness spoke to him, and he appeared all right. Witness and de- ceased had tea together. Witness afterwards went to chapel. After chapel he went for a walk, and returned about a quarter to nine. He noticed the workshop was unlocked, and went in and found deceased hanging. Witness went to the house and told Mrs Jones. Richard Jones, re-called, said that he went to the workshop and found deceased hanging. He ran to the street for assistance, and Mr Hughes, Post Office, assisted witness to get deceased down. He was hanging from the post above the door with a chain round his neck, and tailor's irons fastened to his legs by a silk handkerchief. When taken down, he appeared quite dead. Witness had not noticed anything peculiar about deceased. He appeared quiet and inoffensive. He was not aware that he was in any difficulties. He appeared fond of reading, and until about Christmas used to attend a place of worship. Witness had given deceased notice to leave. Witness asked him if he had written to his mother, and said that his (witness's) wife should write to her. Deceased was a great smoker of cigarettes, and sometimes used to go to public- houses in the evenings. John Hughes, sorting clerk at the Post Office, corroborated the evidence as to .finding the body. P.S. Owen said he went to the place, and found Dr Matthews, Richard Jones, and J. Hughes present. Witness searched the clothing and found a purse with 17s. 10d., also a watch. P.S. Jones, of Talybont, said he had known deceased when at Newcastle Emlyn. He was the son of Mrs Harris (formerly Lewis), of Red Cow Inn, Adpar. Witness always found de- ceased peculiar, and his habits caused a lot of uneasiness to his mother. He was addicted to drinking and cigarette smoking. When working at Llandyssil in September last, deceased left the district suddenly. Inquiries were made, and he was eventually found to be in Machynlleth. Deceased was on friendly terms with his mother and step-father, and witness received a letter from deceased's mother last week saying she in- tended paying him a visit. Witness had been informed that some of the members of deceased's father's family had been in Carmarthen Asylum. Dr Mathews said he was called on Sunday night. From the appearance of the body, it must have been dead a couple of hours. From the description given, witness was of opinion that deceased had deliberately planned his end. The height of the door post was seven feet. Deceased was about 5ft. 6in. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased killed himself by hanging whilst temporarily insane.

Notes:
Linked to
Red Cow Inn , Adpar