SEPTIMUS TOOMER    MELANCHOLY SUICIDE AT NEWBURY

With the opening of the shops and the commencement of business on Saturday morning, the inhabitants of Newbury were saddened at learning that Mr. Septimus Toomer had committed suicide by shooting himself in the forehead with a small revolver which, in size was not much larger than a toy, but evidently capable of deadly results. The sad intelligence caused profound sorrow for and deep sympathy with the relatives, more especially with the aged father of the deceased, Mr. Samuel Nevil Toomer, who besides being the oldest tradesman in the borough, is very highly esteemed by those in whose midst he has lived the 80 years of his life.

The melancholy occurrence necessitated an investigation by the borough coroner (Dr. Watson) and a jury, which took place the same evening at the Jack Hotel. The jury sworn upon the panel were: Mr. Edward Lack (foreman), Messrs John Staples, Wm. Allen, C. Bailey, B. Booz, Thomas Garlick, W. Salisbury, P. Applegate, W. Clark, John Stillman, C. Paris, T. Twissell. After viewing the body, which lay in the bedroom of the deceased, at the residence of his father, Northbrook-street, the Coroner and jury returned to the Jack, where the following evidence was taken:-

Sarah Mayo said- I have known the deceased from childhood, and have been nursing him, on some occasions staying all night with him. He never gave me trouble until last night, when he began fancying people were trying to get into the house. I left him this morning about half-past six, and spoke to him later than this. He was very excited. He had never threatened to destroy himself. He never gave me any reason to suspect that he meant to destroy himself and I never imagined that he would. He kept on about the man, and that he begged me not to open the doors. Saw him last alive about quarter to seven. I went to stay to prevent Mr. Toomer's rest being broken, and that also of Miss Toomer. I do not think deceased slept at all last night, and I had difficulty in keeping him in bed. He wished to come downstairs under the impression that there were men trying to enter — sometimes at the side door and sometimes at the kitchen door. About a quarter past seven the neighbours told me there was something the matter, and I went in and saw the deceased on the floor apparently dead. I stayed a few minutes, and left soon after Mr. Bunny's arrival.

The Foreman-- Have you seen deceased in the same excited state before?- Yes, but not so bad as last night. And you were called on that account? - Yes. Did you know he carried a pistol? - Oh, no, I begged him to go back to his room and he would go, but then he would come back and say the same things. Did you stay in the bedroom or in the house? -In the house. Had anyone spoken to him about carrying a pistol? - No, I do not think anyone knew. It seems to have been known? I am sure his poor father did not know.

Mr. Applegate said he heard six or eight weeks ago that deceased carried a pistol when he went to race-meetings. Mr. Staples- He might have carried it for self-protection. The Coroner said he was afraid he could not accept such statements. They had to investigate the cause of death and not to inquire into rumours. Mr. Salisbury- Was the pistol found with the body? The Coroner — Probably the medical evidence will show this.

Mr. Joseph Brice Bunny, said — I am a registered medical practitioner and have been attending deceased for the last two days, my father having seen him the day previous. This morning I was called about half-past seven and went instantly, and on my arrival found the deceased lying on the floor near the bed, And his feet by the wall. A pistol was lying on the chest of drawers near him. Mr. Toomer took it and handed it over to him. I suppose Mr. Toomer, who had previously entered the room, must have found the pistol and placed it there. The Coroner -If you are not satisfied on this point, gentleman, I will send for Mr. Toomer, but I would like to spare him if possible. The jurymen were unanimous in saying they were satisfied on this point. Mr. Bunny continued — On examination I found a wound on his forehead, and a hole such as would correspond to the size of the bore, about the size of a pea. Death was caused by this wound, and deceased must have died instantly. On Thursday morning deceased was suffering from great nervous excitement and complained of inability to sleep. My father had mentioned to Mr. Toomer that deceased should be watched, and Mr. Toomer asked if that meant they were to remove out of his way anything he might harm himself with, and my father intimated that he did mean that. Mr. Toomer said afterwards that he did remove everything that he considered dangerous, and had no knowledge of the pistol being in his possession. When I saw him last night he seemed much quieter and said he felt better. He had not expressed to me the same delusions as he had to Mrs. Mayo. We were led to give this caution from his general nervousness, his trembling, and great excitement, and from a knowledge of the fact that he had been drinking a great deal. About six weeks ago I saw him in a similar attack, but less severe. My father told Mr. Toomer that deceased suffered from delirium tremens, and this last attack was of a more marked and decided character. Mrs Mayo — He has not had anything since he was attacked, because everything was removed from him.

The Coroner said that the facts of the case were melancholy simple. The evidence showed the condition of mind, and the medical evidence showed particularly that it was delirium tremens. The jury must be guided by the evidence they had heard, and not by reports and statements that were current.

Mr Garlick — There is a great deal of mystery about the pistol? The Coroner — As I said before gentlemen, I am in your hands; if you are not satisfied and wish to know more about the pistol I will send for Mr. Toomer. Mr. Staples- There is no doubt that Mr. Toomer coming into the room naturally picked up the pistol and placed it on the chest of drawers. Mr.Garlick — There is no evidence as to where deceased got this pistol; it seems strange that no one should know that he had it. Mr. Bailey-You would have to call no end of witnesses to prove that. Mr. Staples — He is supposed to have carried it to a race-course. Mr. Applegate — It is well known he did carry a pistol. Mr. Garlick suggested that as deceased was under delusion that persons were getting into the house he might have got the pistol to use in imaginery self-defence, and it went off accidentally. Mr. Staples- but they would not sell such things. Mr. Bailey- Pistols would be sold by gunsmiths, and this is so small as to be carried easily in a waistcoat pocket. The Coroner said he had known men carry pistols on going out at night. It was a dangerous practice, because if they defended themselves with such things they would render themselves liable to a charge of manslaughter. He would ask the doctor if he thought deceased after using it could have placed the pistol on the drawers. Mr. Bunny thought not.

The Foreman- There is a feeling among the jurymen that the police-constable should be sworn. William Fulbrook was accordingly sworn and said — I am a police-constable and was on duty this morning and hearing of this occurrence went to Mr. Toomer's house about a quarter to eight, and in the bedroom saw deceased lying dead on the floor, and looked and inquired for the pistol or revolver he might have used, and the pistol produced was given to me by Mr. Toomer, the father out of the next room. Mr. Bunny was there at the time. I left the house and reported the occurrence to the Coroner. I did not ask any questions of Mr. Toomer. Mr Staples said there could not be the slightest doubt but that the deceased committed suicide. It was not like being found by the wayside or away from home where others could have access to him.

Mrs Mayo, in reply to the Coroner, said that the only occupants of the house were the servant, the father and sister of the deceased; the father is about 82 years of age.

The Coroner- We cannot tell what might happen to a man of that age if we were to bring him out to this enquiry. The Jury said they were quite satisfied without further evidence, and without further deliberation returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide whist of unsound mind.

Newbury Weekly News 16 August 1877

Grave Mrs Patterson p.13 W.28

Septimus Toomer born Sept 1840 died Aug 1877