ISAAC WELLS

Wells.—April 25, at the " Rokeby Arms," Newbury, Isaac Wells, aged 76 years, lamented by his sorrowing friends.

 SAD CASE OF SUICIDE  A melancholy case of suicide occurred on Friday night when Isaac Wells, the landlord of the “ Rokeby Arms," committed suicide by hanging himself.  The deceased, who was 75 years of age, had been in a very depressed state for some months past, consequent upon a disease of the kidneys which was further aggravated by the loss of his only son, of whom he had good reason to be justly proud. 

 He had enlisted as a soldier, being a trumpeter in the lst Royal Dragoons.  By good conduct and attention to duties, he was promoted to different offices in the regimental band, until at last he became a sergeant-major. He was then granted a commission and was captain at the time of his death, which took place in India.  Deceased felt the death of his son very much, the more acutely perhaps from having served in the Army himself and seen active service.  We believe that he was in receipt of a pension of 1s a day, and was about to leave the “Rokeby Arms." 

 Deceased was found hanging to a beam in an out-house, and his feet were but a few inches from the ground.   At the inquest held on Saturday evening at the "London Apprentice," before Dr. Watson, J.P., Borough Coroner, the following evidence was taken before a jury, of whom Mr. W. Sellwood was foreman.  Charlotte Wells, wife of deceased, said that her husband had been unwell and under medical care for the past four months.  On Friday night, just before eight o'clock he left the house saying he was going out into the garden.  He was in his usual health all day, and there was nothing to lead her to suspect anything wrong.  She thought he was gone rather longer than usual and went to for him.  She could not find him, and called to her grandson to go and look.  He found the deceased suspended from a beam in the out-house.  He cut him down at once, and she believed he was dead. He had never expressed any intention of destroying himself.  She had only missed him about ten minutes.

 Mr. Richard Hickman was the next witness called.  He said that he had been attending deceased since December last.  He was suffering from disease of the kidney and senile decay.  The deceased had often expressed a wish to die, but had never hinted any idea of destroying himself, and witness had no reason for suspecting that he would do so.  About a week ago deceased told him that he had lost an only son about three years since.  This son held a commission in the Army in India, and his death was a great blow to his father.  Witness was sent for on Friday night, and on reaching the " Rokeby Arms" found deceased laid out in the kitchen, quite dead, but not cold.  His face was placid and there was a deep mark round the neck, produced by a rope or hard band. Witness had no hesitation in saying that death was caused by strangulation, the result of hanging.

The jury were unanimously agreed that deceased committed suicide whilst in an unsound state of mind.  Mr Nundy, brewing manager to Messrs. Hawkins, the owners of the house kept by the deceased, was present at the inquest.

D  25 Apr. 1884

Bur 29 Apr. 1884