A Pint of History Please

Exploring the History of Ceredigion's Pubs

Suicide of landlord by strychnine

Source: Cambrian News 23/06/1905       Date: 1905
Copyright:       Type: Newspaper
Description:

Transcript:
Inquest. On Thursday of last week, Dr. Abel Evans, coroner for Mid-Cardiganshire, held an inquest at Penpompren Inn, Llanwenog, touching the death of Daniel Davies, landlord of the Penpompren Inn. Mr Thos. Owen, Maesyfelin, was foreman of the jury. Harriet Davies, wife of deceased, said she last saw him alive about four a.m. on Thursday in a field close by. She called out to him, but he did not answer. He went up towards Drefach. She went back to the house and waited some time expecting him back. In about quarter of an hour she sent her son up to the back to look for him. The son returned in about half an hour and told witness he could not find him. Witness had noticed that deceased was not right in his mind for the last twelve months. He appeared rather wild, but always talked quite rationally. She never had the slightest suspicion that he would do away with himself.- John Daniel Davies, son of deceased, said he was standing near the haggard about half past eight that morning when he heard someone groaning in the barn. He fetched Garfield Evans. When they got up into the loft of the barn they saw deceased lying on the straw. He did not say a word. Witness asked him what was the matter with him, but he did not answer. He noticed deceased's arms moving rapidly. Thomas Garfield Evans, Vale of Cledlyn, Llanwenog, said that a person told him deceased had hanged himself. He ran down to Penpompren at once. He saw the last witness at the barn door, and asked him where his father was and he pointed to the loft. Witness went up and saw deceased lying on his back in a corner of the room. He opened his shirt. Witness did not ask him anything and deceased never said a word to him. Witness then went for a doctor. Dr E. C. Thomas said he was sent for to see the deceased that morning. When he arrived he saw the deceased on the loft of the barn. Deceased knew him very well. He was quite conscious to the last. He noticed that the whole of his body was in a state of spasm, except the jaws. His face and hands were livid, and the pupils, of his eyes fully dilated; Deceased shrieked when the spasms came on. Witness gave him some medicine. When he gave him that, he had the last fit of convulsions and died of asphyxia. The jury returned a verdict that deceased poisoned himself with strychnine whilst of unsound mind.
Notes:
Linked to
Penpompren Inn , Drefach, Llanwenog