Berkshire Chronicle

Dated 20^th March 1858

SHOCKING SUICIDE. - This town was thrown into a state of much excitement on Thursday last, in consequence if intelligence being received that Mr. Charles Hermon, a bootmaker, Bartholomew Street, had been found in Dark Lane leading from Wash-road to Enborne Church, with his head nearly severed from his body. He was sitting in a ditch, and held a razor loosely between his fingers, with which he committed the deed. Mr. Frost was bean-planting, and had put a sack of beans in this lane that morning, but when he went to get the sack in the afternoon, he discovered the deceased as we have described. He immediately gave information to the police and the body was removed to the Horse Shoe, at Enborne. What makes the affair more melancholy is, that the deceased had been married only about three weeks to his third wife, a person much younger that himself, and leaving a family of five children. It was a most determined act of self-destruction, as the razor was found bound with waxend to prevent the blade from going back.

The deceased was a most respectable tradesman in the town, and well known; and therefore, it has caused quite a gloominess to prevail. An inquest was held on the body yesterday (Friday) afternoon at the above public-house, before J. Alexander, Esq., county coroner, when a verdict of “Felo de Se” was returned. The inquest termination so late prevents our giving the particulars.