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Ringstead
Suicide
Northampton Mercury, 7th November 1902, courtesy of Jon Abbott

Inquest - Mr. J. T. Parker, County Coroner, held an inquest at the house of Mr. William Roberts, Ringstead, on Saturday afternoon, with respect to the death of Elijah Robinson, which took place on Friday. Evidence was given by Sarah Ann Robinson, the widow, who said that her husband had been unwell for some time, but was not depressed, and seemed fairly cheerful. His illness had prevented him sleeping and eating, and also kept him from work. He was receiving money from his club, but that would soon run out. He lived principally on milk. On Friday soon after mid-day he went out into the yard, saying he would go there because he could breathe easier outdoors.—Fisher Baker, shoemaker, said he was going by deceased’s barn on Friday at dinner-time when he heard a noise, and looking in saw deceased lying on his side in a pool of blood. His head fell back, witness then saw that his throat was cut.—William Roberts, parish constable, spoke to being fetched by the last witness and finding deceased as stated, and a knife by his side. He did not move after witness saw him.—Dr. Harris, Raunds, said he had been attending deceased for consumption of the throat, from which he would probably have died in a few weeks. Deceased knew it was a hopeless case, and at times seemed depressed.—The jury returned a verdict of “Suicide whilst temporarily insane.”



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