A tragic discovery was made this morning (Friday), at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Southam (on the corner of Cromwell-road and Pratt-road), when Mr. Southam was found to be dead in a tank of water. Mr. Southam was the holder of the “off” licence there.

  Mr. Southam, who was aged about 80, got up about six o’clock this morning and went downstairs and out into the yard. It was thought that he was gone a long time, and Mrs. Southam’s brother went to see if he was all right. He went into the beer store and was shocked to find Mr. Southam head downwards in a tank of water which was kept there for cleaning purposes.

  The body was recovered, but lifeless. The police were informed, and the Coroner has been notified.

  Mr. Southam had been very greatly worried for some time over the serious illness of his wife, for whom he felt little could be done.  He was a police constable in his younger days.  Mr. Southam had been the occupier of the premises in Pratt-road for some 25 years or so.  He had been married previously.  There is one child (a daughter) by the present wife, and she lives at home.  Much sympathy is felt with the bereaved wife and daughter.  Mrs. Southam attained her 66^th birthday recently.

  An inquest will be held at the Rushden Police Station this evening.

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5^th July, 1929

Inquest on Rushden Ex-Constable

Pathetic Message by Mr. Southam - “God Protect My Wife And Child”

  Mr. J. C. Parker conducted an inquest at the Police Station, Rushden, on Friday last, into the circumstances of the death of Mr. Mark Southam, whose end from drowning was reported last Friday.  Mr. Southam, holder of an “off licence” at 2, Pratt-road, Rushden, was found early on Friday morning in a water tank on his premises.

  Dr. O. A. J. N. Muriset said he was called that (Friday) morning about 7 o’clock to the house of the deceased.  Deceased was lying on the floor of a barn at the back of the house.  Inspector Knight was then trying artificial respiration.  Witness examined the man and found that further artificial respiration was hopeless.  The deceased had suffered for several years from heart trouble and he probably died form asphyxiation.  It would need only a short immersion to cause the death of a person of the age and condition of deceased.  Deceased had been a patient of the doctor for several years.  He had never shown any signs of taking his own life.  Southam had been very distressed owing to the condition of his wife, who happened to be on the point of being certified as insane and of being removed to an institution.  The doctor added that he had left the deceased the previous evening about 9.30, attempting to fill up papers for her removal and he appeared very distressed.

  Police Inspector Knight said he was called to the house at 6.30 and got there five minutes later.  He found deceased lying in the bottling tank in a building at the rear of his home.  He was crouched up on his left side.  The tank measured 10 inches by 36 inches and was 18 inches deep.  There was a ledge inside eight inches from the top.  Deceased’s head was under the ledge.  There was a very small quantity of water in the tank.  Witness first felt of the man.  The body was quite warm and with the help of his brother-in-law, James Johnson, witness got the body out and started artificial respiration.  On the body was a note which the Coroner read out as follows:-

  “Paid twice over to the Assurance Company, God protect my wife and child.” It obviously meant, the Coroner said that deceased was of the opinion that he had paid double the amount on a life assurance policy that would be received on it. Inspector Knight, proceeding, said that the level of the water in the tank was below the mouth of the deceased. Also the left side of the body was quite dry. A box of matches in one pocket was dry, and the man’s watch had not stopped. Water was never more than ten inches deep.

Pensioner’s Great Shock

  James Johnson, of Bozeat, old age pensioner, and brother-in-law of the deceased, identified the body, and said deceased was aged 77 last September. Witness said he had been on a visit to his sister on Tuesday. She was very ill, having mental trouble among other things. He sat up on Thursday night part of the time. Southam lay on the bed but did not sleep all night. Deceased spoke at 5 o’clock, and on witness’s advice he went off to sleep again. Just before 6 o’clock deceased got up, dressed, and went down stairs having pointed out of the window indicating where he was going.  Later on witness looked at his watch and after deceased had been gone 30 minutes witness thought Southam had been gone long enough and he (witness) called his sister Rose to watch Mrs. Southam while witness went to see for his brother-in-law.  He searched several rooms down stairs and out-houses.  On going into the store, witness heard water running into the bottle-washer.  There he found Southam in the tank.  Witness went back and said, “Rose, he is in the water.  What am I to do?”  Meantime witness had turned off the water to stop the flow into the tank.  It did not occur to him to pull the waste plug out.  The discovery shocked him, he hardly knew what he was doing.  He noticed that Southam’s head was under water when he first saw him.  Mr. Underwood was sent for and he fetched a police officer.  Inspector Knight soon came.  During Thursday evening Southam appeared more upset that usual, in fact he seemed worn out with worrying over his wife.  He had never once threatened to take his own life.

  The Coroner found that the deceased committed suicide by drowning himself in a bottle washing tank, and at the time he was temporarily insane.  That was made clear by the history and what happened at the time and what the doctor had said.