Case of suicide in which death resulted from a wound in the neck by an earthenware jug: with remarks / [Robert Spittal].

  • Spittal, Robert, 1804-1852.
Date:
[1842]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Case of suicide in which death resulted from a wound in the neck by an earthenware jug: with remarks / [Robert Spittal]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    2. J. L. or B., a widow, was sentenced in the police court by the sheriff, on 23d February current, to 2S days’ imprisonment along with deceased for theft: neither had been convicted before. They slept in the same cell together on Saturday night. The deceased was much addicted to drinking, and was apparently ill of delirium tremens after coming in. She calmed about midnight, was collected in the morning, and took her milk, but no porridge, to breakfast. The declarant left her about nine, and thought there was nothing the matter with her. She (de¬ ceased) said nothing as to being vexed, but remarked it might have been a worse punishment. She used no expression to lead the declarant to think she would attempt to commit suicide. The declarant has seen her as delirious in her own house as she was on Saturday night (23), and that on two occasions. The deceased was quite calm on the Sunday morning, and said she had been affected by drink. The declarant said, “ I’ll not drink again when I get outwhen the deceased replied, she would not give it up altogether, but that she would not drink so much as she had done. 3. E. S. P., the matron, had charge of the deceased. Declares that she saw her on Saturday night before she was locked up. She was then crying, but not in any way outrageously : That the declarant was sent for by the watchman about half-past eleven, who told her that the deceased was making a noise. The declarant went and found her muttering something, and saying somebody was chasing her : That the declarant soothed her, and she got better. The declarant then left her, and re¬ turned in half an hour. She was then quite calm, and the pre¬ ceding witness (No. 2) did not seem alarmed about her. That the declarant left the wooden door1 open to give her more air, and that if noise was made again it might be easily heard. That the declarant saw her in the morning, and gave her a jug and spoon for her milk. She was then quite composed and calm, and washed her face along with the other prisoners : That the de¬ clarant remarked, she had been noisy through the night. She answered, she was sorry for that, and would not do it again : That before going to chapel, at eleven o’clock, the declarant gave her a Bible, and told her to learn the first psalm. She remarked, it was the best consolation she had : That on her return after the forenoon service, about one, to give her her dinner, the declarant found her lying on the floor with her throat horribly cut, and quite dead, and the jug broken in pieces, and one portion of it lying at her side all bloody : That witness No. 4 was with the declarant carrying the dinner, and the declarant desired her to wash up the 1 There being an iron grated one besides.