ALFRED SMITH
SAD SUICIDE AT NEWBURY.
A PUBLICAN DROWNS HIMSELF.
A terribly sad affair happened on Saturday morning. A man named Alfred Smith, who for eighteen months has been landlord of the " Vine" publichouse, Bartholowmew-street, Newbury, went out in the morning. expressing his intention to go to Thatcham. His wife, knowing he had not been well for some weeks, begged him not to go, but be persisted. She said they parted quite friendly, and that was the last time she saw him alive. In less than an hour a man walking along the towing-path near Greenham Lock, saw Smith in the water, floatiog on his back and waving his hands. Being unable to reach him, he ran back a short distance to the cottage by the lock, to get the drag. When he got back the body had disappeared, and he ran back to town to inform the police. Supt. Robotham and Inspector Maunders, with two constables, proceeded to the spot. and after dragging for some time, brought the body to the bank. It was placed in a punt and taken to the Mortuary.
At the inquest on Saturday night, the Coroner and jury endeavoured to ascertain the state of the man's mind, and the reason for taking his life. The wife declared that she knew of no cause why her husband should commit suicide, although in August last he had made an attempt to hang himself, and she had been the means of saving his life. Everything pointed to a deranged mind. He had complained of pains in his head, had been medically treated, and his conduct had been very strange and unaccountable. A letter found upon him was most incoherent and rambling, and gave no clue for his rash act, although it was convincing proof of the state of mind. The deceased, who was 50 years of age, was a carpenter and joiner, and had the reputation of being a very efficient workman, having been in the employ of local firms until recent!y. In April, 1902, be became landlord of the "Vine," and latterly has taken jobs on his own account.
THE INQUEST.
The inquest was held on Saturday evening in the Police Court, before the Borough Coroner (Dr. Watson, J.P.), and s jury of which Mr. W. R. Allee was foreman.
Mrs. Charlotte Smith. wife of the deceased identified the body as that of her husband. She last saw him alive at 8.45 that morning, when he said he was going to Thatcham, and then on to see his mother. He had not been well for three mouths, and had been attended by Dr. Wyllie since the last week in August. He complained of pains in his head.
The Coroner—Did he leave you on friendly terms this morning?
Mrs. Smith—Quite friendly, and I begged him not to go.
Had you any idea that he would attempt to take his life?—Once before he did.
How long ago? In August, since then he has been worse.
Have you always been on good terms as husband and wife?—Generally speaking, nothing to complain of.
You were on friendly terms this morning ?—Quite friendly.
Have you ever given him cause to act in this way?—Not that I am aware of in the least.
Did he ever threaten to destroy his life?—Never, with the one exception in August, when he attempted his life.
How was he going to take his life?—He was going to hang himself with his braces, but I was just in time to untie them.
Had you any quarrel then?—Not at all.
Is that all you can tell us ?—He has been very strange. I asked him to have a doctor this week, but he would not. I have two witnesses to say that I wanted him to have a doctor after eleven o'clock last night.
The Foreman —Why did you persuade him not to go this morning? - Because he was not in a proper condition to go. He was far from being well.
Silas Kempster, labourer, living at the “Steamer” public house, said on Saturday morning about nine o'clock, he was going along by the water-side, and when near the lock-keeper’s house he saw the deceased in the water waving his hands about. He tried to reach him, but could not get at him, and ran back for the drag at the lock-keeper's house. Having got the drag, be returned, but could not see the deceased who was washed down the river. He came back to the town and informed the police. Deceased was on his back floating down stream. He was not calling out or trying to save himself. There was no one else in sight.
The Foreman - Where was it? —Between Greenham lock and the railway bridge. He had hung his hat and jacket on the rails by the little bridge.
The Coroner - Was the lock-keeper at home? - No, only a woman. She came down, but knew nothing about it. She had not seen the man.
Superintendent Robotham said that morning about ten o’clock he was informed that a man was in the river between Greenham-lock and the Didcot railway bridge. On arriving he saw a coat and hat hanging on the rails. In the coat he found a letter written in pencil, as follows:-
"After 47 years they tried, after 47 years to do old Alf. O wot a disgrace. Wat was you your self. Just thing over this, your taking my life, leaving a delagate wife and theare poor sorrowing children. Disgrasd. Por old Alf. Everebody kows as a good sound old trump. Sooner than have my wife and children taken away, I would die like a good trump. W. Brazier is to have my old tools. Alf pull off your coat like poor old Alf. and you wont bee far behind them. Good by all enqirers for Alf. Broken-hearted Alf. Smith. All done up . . . Good by wife.”
Mrs. Smith was shown the letter and identified the writing as that of her husband’s. She said he asked her for a piece of paper that morning, but this was not the piece she gave him.
The Foreman—Did you know of any trouble be had got?
Supt. Robotham—l have heard rumours.
The Coroner—Domestic troubles?
Supt. Robotham—Yes sir.
The Coroner —There is no need to go into that unless it has a bearing on the cause of death.
Supt. Robotham, continuing his evidence, said he was accompanied by Inspector Maunders, P.C’s Mansbridge and Harris, and with the assistance of a young man named Ward, they dragged the river. After some little time the body was found in about ten feet of water, some eight feet from the bank, and twenty yards from where he was seen to fall in the river. He was quite dead, and the body was placed in a punt and brought to the Mortuary. On searching the body they found one half-penny and an empty canvas bag. There were no marks of bruises or evidences of foul play. There was nothing on the bank to indicate that there had been any struggle, except where Kempster had tried to reach him. On Thursday night between eight and nine, deceased came to him in the Market-place and stated that witness was wanted in Police Station as there was a man there. Witness went there in company with deceased, who made a very rambling statemant that he had a man in his inside, who had come through the window on the Sunday night. Witness told him he was not well, and advised him to go and see a doctor.
The Coroner—Did he appear to be in liquor?
Supt. Robotham—No sir, be appeared very sane. I directed P.C. Parkins to call at the "Vine," and he did so in a quarter-of-an-hour. The constable reported that he saw deceased in the house, and that he told him there was nothing the matter. The constable also inquired of one of the daughters what was the matter with her father. She replied, "Nothing," and he left the house.
The Coroner, in summing up, said there could be no doubt that the cause of death was drowning, and the state of mind of deceased was undoubtedly very disordered, as shown by the disjointed and rambling letter. it was evident that deceased could not hare been in his right mind.
Supt. Robotham said deceased bore a very good character for respectability.
The jury reiurned a verdict that "Deceased committed suicide whilst temporarily insane.”
