The Jones Family: People
Henry Jones
I have known about the suicide of my great-great-grandfather Henry Jones for some time now, but today I received information from a distant relative, Milly, as to how he died.
The following is a copy of the report into his death.
Shocking Suicide at Cefn-y-Crib
Mr E.D. Batt, coroner, and a jury, of which Mr Luke Skidmore, was foreman, held an inquest at Hafodyrynys Inn on Tuesday morning, as to the death of Henry Jones aged 49 years, a collier of Cefn-y-Crib, who, in a fit of depression, committed suicide under circumstances described below.
Lucy Richards said she had been at deceased’s house for the last three weeks, waiting upon his wife, wh had had typhoid fever. On Saturday morning she saw the deceased shortly before 7 o’clock when she thought he was going to feed the pigs. She did not see him alive afterwards. Alexander Jones, son of the deceased said his father had been unwell for a long time. He last saw him at 5 o’clock on Saturday morning, when he was in bed. Shortly before one witness went to the w.c. and found he could not open the door. Looking through a crevice, he saw deceased behind the door, with his head bent down and blood on the floor. Dr. Mason came there just at the time. Witness identified a knife found in the closet as having belonged to his father, who had been depressed at various times during the past three years. Dr S.B. Mason said deceased had been under his treatment. On Saturday witness got to the place as the body was being taken from the closet. Deceased’s throat was cut in a terrible manner. The injuries must have been self-inflicted as from the position of the body no one could have come out of the closet.
The jury, after returning a verdict of 'suicide whilst temporarily insane' considerately handed their fees to the widow, who is left with a family of eight children. Deceased bore a most ememplary character, and was highly respected.