Terrible Pain Drives Man to Suicide

A dramatic story of the suicide of a well-known Conisborough man after he had suffered years of terrible pain was related to the Doncaster Deputy Coroner, Mr. W. H. Carlile, at an inquest at Conisborough, yesterday.

The inquest was on Enoch Watson (55), retired grocer, of “Brayton,” Park Road, Conisborough.

The widow, Mrs Mary Watson, said that her husband got about 4.30 a.m. on Wednesday. There was nothing unusual in this, for he had often got early owing to his pain. He usually lit a fire when he came downstairs, but when witness came down at about half-past seven there was no fire.

She walked into the kitchen, and saw chalked the wall the following message: “Fetch Albert. I cannot hear this torture any more.”

Albert was their son, and she fetched him, and the two went together into the wash-house..

Another Message.

On the door of the wash-house was another chalked-message: “Gas escaping.”

They went in and found Watson lying the floor with his head covered with rug.

There was gas pipe close by and the gas was turned full on. The wash-house was full of gas. They turned off the gas and opened the doors and then found that Watson was quite dead.

Mrs. Watson said that her husband had been ill for many years. In the last twelve months he had gradually got worse and had suffered very great pain. He had never threatened take his life, but she had often heard him say that he wished lie could die in his sleep.

A Great Sufferer.

Doctor. J. McArthur, Conisborough, said he had attended Watson for a number of years, for what witness thought to be a tumour the brain. From 20 June last until 4 May last, the doctor had attended Watson regularly. Nothing could done for him, however, and was gradually getting worse.

About three weeks ago he seemed to be semi-paralysed in the legs. On Wednesday witness received and urgent call to the house, but when arrived at about 8.15 Watson was dead asphyxia being the cause of death. There was no doubt that the dead man had suffered terrible pain.

The Coroner, in recording verdict of “Suicide while unsound mind,” said that the pain was no doubt so terrible that it had turned Watson’s mind. “It is terrible thing.” said, addressing the relatives, “And I deeply sorry. There is consolation, however, in the fact that he is suffering no longer.”