Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 14 October 1899
Sad Suicide of a Professional Cricketer at Doncaster.
Yesterday Mr. T. B. Sugden held inquest respecting the death of George Cort, professional cricketer. Doncaster. Deceased was for some time professional for the Doncaster Club, and last year for Conisborough.
It was stated by the widow that deceased, who was 33 years of age, came home drunk on the 3rd September, and producing a bottle containing chloride zinc, said, “I am going to do for myself.” He drank about two tablespoonfuls and going downstairs fell on the floor insensible. He had drank about 4s worth of brandy that day.
The Coroner asked be had any trouble home, and the widow replied, “No, only my being in bed and having so many children.” She had just given birth to twins.
Dr. Selby was sent for, and concluded that deceased was suffering from drink, especially next day when became conscious he denied that he bad drunk anything from a bottle. Deceased was treated in the infirmary, and died there on Wednesday.
A post-mortem was held, and it was found that had suffered from ulceration of the stomach and stricture of the lower end of the stomach, resulting from corrosive poison.
The jury found that deceased had committed suicide whilst in unsound state of mind.
Mr. W. W. Peacock, who had been summoned on the jury, failed to attend, and the Coroner imposed a fine of 7s. 6d. upon him.