JOHN CHAPMAN

SIJICIDE AT NEWBURY    PENSIONER CUTS HIS THROAT

A case of suicide occurred at 4 Pleasant-place, St John's-road on Tuesday afternoon, when an Army pensioner named John Chapman, aged about 64, ended his life by cutting his throat. Chapman had risen in the rank of colour-sergeant in the Army, and was in receipt of a pension of 2s 5d a day. He had lived in Newbury for the last six years, coming to the town to take employment as a painter. He did not long follow this trade, and for several years he has done no work, his pension being ample for his needs.

He had been in bad health for some time past, and had kept to his bed with influenza since Friday. He, however, appeared fairly cheerful and in his usual mental condition.  On Tuesday he was seen by friends and was visited by the Rev. R. Wickham Legg, who signed his pension papers. At half past five in the afternoon a heavy fall was heard in his bedroom, and on going to the room it was found that Chapman was lying on the floor with his throat cut in so severe a manner that the head was almost severed from the body. The landlady, Mrs. Brazier, and her assistant, Miss Alice Louisa Davis, at once sent for Dr. Heywood, who arrived in a few minutes, but life was extinct and nothing could be done for the man. The deceased appears to have been standing before the looking glass when he committed the fatal deed, and to have used two razors, both being found on the floor with the body. 

Being the Borough Coroner, Dr Haywood ordered the removal of the body to the mortuary, and an inquest will take place today (Thursday). There appears to be no reason for the rash deed, and it may therefore be charitably supposed that his brain had been affected by the influenza from which he had been suffering. It is moreover a distressing circumstance that another lodger, a Miss Annie Preston, in the same house, an old blind person, had died on Sunday, and was at that moment lying in a downstairs room. It is not believed that Chapman knew anything of this occurrence, but if he did, it is probable that this circumstance, coupled with physical depression and weakness arising from the disease, was the cause of his suicide.

The landlady, Mrs. Brazier, is receiving much sympathy in the environment of sorrow into which she has been plunged. The relatives of Chapman have been apprised. His son is understood to be living in Tewkesbury. 

Newbury Weekly News 3 March 1910

Not in Mrs P. therefore unlikely to be a memorial

JOHN CHAPMAN

SUICIDE BY A PENSIONER

INQUEST AT NEWBURY

The sad end of an army pensioner, who died by his own hand, was the subject of an inquiry before the Borough Coroner, Dr W.B. Heywood at the Police Court, Newbury, on Thursday evening last. The foreman of the jury was Mr. G.W. Love.

The man, who had cut his throat in a determined manner, was named John Chapman, and lodged with Mrs. Brazier, of 4 Pleasant-place, St John's-road. He had been in the town for some years, but had only been lodging there for the past two months. He was in receipt of a pension of 2s 5d a day, and had risen in the rank of Colour Sergeant in the old 12th Gloucestershire regiment, as high as it was possible for him to attain. The following facts were addressed in evidence before the Coroner.

George Chapman, Sergt-Instructor in the 5th Glos. Territorials, who wore a sergeant's uniform in the King's Royal Rifles, identified the body as that of his father, John Chapman. He saw him on last Saturday, having stayed with him since Wednesday. He was in a very poor state of health, and suffered a great deal from his breath. He was confined to his bed, and witness sat up with him three nights to give him nourishment and attention. He was quite rational in all points and did not say or do anything which would lead anyone to suppose that he had any idea of taking his life. On Wednesday night he was delirious, but from two o'clock on Thursday morning he was perfectly rational until witness left on Saturday.

Rev. R. Wickham-Legg, vicar of St John's parish said he saw the deceased at quarter to eleven last Tuesday. He was not quite rational then, and there was some difficulty in getting him to sign his pension paper, but he showed no signs whatever of any desire to take his life. Witness left him after about five or ten minutes and thinking him rather exhausted said he would come and see him either later that day or the next day. He had known him for some time and several times in the last fortnight. On several occasions he was very strange in his manner, but he got quite rational and quiet again.

Mrs Ann Brazier, who was in a state of collapse owing to the shock her nerves had sustained, said John Chapman had lodged with her for two months. He was quite well until Monday, February 21, when he had a very bad influenza cold, and his breath was very laboured. She sent of his son and he came on Wednesday and stayed until Saturday morning. She saw a great deal of him, his mind wandered very much at times, but usually he was quite rational. A man was employed to sit with him at night. He had never said anything to her to lead her to believe he was going to take his life. She was with him practically all day on Tuesday . His mind wandered at times. She was with him until five o'clock in the afternoon. He said “I think Mrs. Brazier, I shall have ten minutes sleep, go downstairs and shut the doors. She had not been away two minutes when she heard a sudden thud, and she rushed upstairs and found him on the floor. She fainted and remembered no more, and somebody afterwards took her into another room.

Alice Lucy Davis said she was with Mrs. Brazier from 11a.m. Mr Chapman seemed very restless all the day. She did not see him, but she could hear him groaning. Mrs Brazier was up and down all day. About five Mrs. Brazier came downstairs. They were just sitting at tea when they heard a thud as if somebody had fallen out of bed. They both rushed upstairs and saw him lying on the floor bleeding terribly. Witness at once went for the doctor. She had never talked with him and knew nothing of his mental condition.

Dr. Heywood, the Coroner, said he had visited the deceased and was consequently sworn to give evidence. He said that on Wednesday Feb. 23 he was first called to see the deceased. For three days after he had no sleep and narcotics had to be administered and he was delirious at times. He saw him again on Monday, when he said he was better and he called again on Tuesday. His condition varied, sometimes he was quite right and at other times his mind wandered very much. He often would not answer when spoken to, and shrunk away from a stethoscope as if he was going to be hurt, although he knew perfectly well what it was. He was called at five pm on Tuesday and found the deceased had just been lifted on to the bed. His throat was cut badly and he was just on the point of death, and he passed away within two minutes.

P.C. Light said that on the evening of March 1st, at 6 p.m. By the request of the Coroner, he went to the deceased's lodgings for the purpose of moving the body to the mortuary. In the bedroom in front of the looking glass he found two razors opened which he produced. He searched the room and could find nothing referring to the deed. Both razors had been used and were covered with blood.

The Coroner said the only verdict they could arrive at was that the deceased died by his own hand, and it was for them to say if he was in his right mind.

The Jury at once returned a verdict that John Chapman, while in a state of unsound mind, killed himself by cutting his throat. They also expressed their sympathy with the son of the deceased.

Newbury Weekly News 10 March 1910

BMD Mar Q 1910 John Chapman aged 63 Newbury 2c 165

Buried 4 March 1910

Book 1899 page 186 no. 8687