Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 23 August 1929

Thurnscoe Suicide.

A Tragedy of Imagination.

A witness at an inquest held at Thurnscoe on Satuiday morning told the coroner, Mr. W. M. Carlile, that the dead man. James Wood (26), joiner. 79. Deightonby Street, Thurnscoe East, said, “Everyone is talking about me and saying I am no good. I am packing up and clearing out.”

Wood drowned himself in the Hickleton Main Colliery reservoir on Friday morning.

Wm. Wood, colliery shaft examiner, said his son left home on Friday morning at and ten minutes later went to his shop, put his cycle away, and went to the corner in which he worked. When witness went home his wife told him that his son had been very strange, and had told her that everyone was talking about him, saying he was no good, and that he would pack up and clear out. She told him not to talk so silly. She knew there was no talk about him. It was all imagination.

Deceased only had a cup of tea for bteakfast, and did not say “Good morning” as usual when he went to work. He had been depressed at times, and had not spoken to witness, but to his wife. He had been quiet. A razor (produced) was bound in his pocket It belonged to deceased and was used for cutting corns. It was kept in the bath-room. Deceased left a note in his night clothes addressed to his mother, in which he complained of his head, and said that beer had been his ruin, but he had not been a heavy drinker. He had complained to his mother that he had not slept all night. There was no insanity in the family. A note was also left for a young lady.

Evelyn Sells, 57, Whitworth Buildings, Thurnscoe, said she had been keeping company with deceased, and he had been depressed lately. He told her everybody was against him, and was talking about him, and he had nothing to live for. About a month ago he said he would take his life.

Ambrose Wilkinson, 56, Tudor Street, Thurnscoe, manager of the Hickleton Main brickworks, said at 9-30 on Friday morning two joiners asked him to look for deceased. He went to the reservoir and found deceased floating on his face about a yard from the bank. Witness got him out, did what he could, but found no signs of life. He reported the matter to the police,

P.c. Ackworth said he found two deep cuts in deceased’s left wrist, probably made with a razor. Among other articles in the pockets were a pocket knife and the razor. There were no other marks of violence, on the body.

The Coroner said it was quite clear that he sees intended to take his life. When he failed with the razor he drowned himself.

He returned a verdict of “Suicide while of unsound mind.”