Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 25 September 1885

Distressing Suicide of a Boy at Barnburgh

A Lover Of “Sensational” Literature.

On Saturday an inquest was held at the Plumbers Arms Inn, Barnburgh, before Mr. Nicholson, coroner on the body of George Ball, who was found dead in a hayloft on the previous Thursday.

Harry Ball, a farm servant in the employ of Mr Wales, Barnburgh, said the deceased was his brother; he was only 13 years of age, and was employed by Henrietta Clark. He had been admitted Clarke’s about a month, and that slept in the house. Witness last saw him alive on Sunday previous to his death; he was then in good health and spirits, and was as well as ever witness had seen him. Witness searched for deceased on Thursday evening, and got to Mrs Clarke’s premises about 8 o’clock. Mrs Clarke had previously sent a man to search for the deceased. Witness found deceased about 8 o’clock in the hayloft on Mrs Clarke’s premises. He was on his toes, and his knees nearly touched the ground.

A rope was around his neck, and he was suspended from a beam in the hayloft belonging to Mrs Clarke. Witness helped take the body down immediately. He assisted a man, named Brown by lifting the body up while Brown cut the ropes. His brother was then quite dead and cold.

In answer to questions from the Coroner, witness did not know whether his brother was depressed in his spirit. Deceased was very fond of reading newspapers and “clock almanacs” and his mother’s friend that she would not get in any more papers, as he could not get him to do anything. He read “sensational” book.

In reply to a question as to what kind of sensational but was read by the deceased, witness answered “Bibles; he even used to get the Prayer Book and read it.” The deceased was very cheerful.

He did not know that his mother had taken books way from the deceased because he had over studied himself. When he found the deceased hanging in the loft the knot in the rope (produced) was tight under his chin. Deceased wore his working clothes, but had no coat on. His hat was found some distance off; his coat had not been discovered.

Thomas Brown, a Mason, in the employ of the Manvers Main colliery company, said he knew the deceased. Witness lived at Barnburgh, and on Thursday evening he was asked to look for the deceased by Mrs Clarke. He went to the deceased mother’s house at the request of Mrs Clarke, and failing to find him there he searched Mrs Clarke premises in company with the previous witness. The body was eventually found in a hayloft suspended from a beam. His knees were close to the ground; his feet touched the ground. If the deceased had had the requisite presence of mind he could have released himself from the rope. Witness got him down while the previous witness held him. He did not see the deceased coat; his hat was lying some distance off. He last saw the deceased alive on the previous Wednesday morning; he then seemed in good health.

In answer to questions from members of the jury witness stated that the knot of the rope was against his left ear. He could not tell whether the rope had been placed properly round his neck by the deceased; it might have slipped from the beam round his neck, but it was not probable. The beam on which the rope had been placed was 7 feet from the floor of the hayloft. There were two hay forks by the side of the deceased, it was probable that he placed the rope over the beam by their means.

Henrietta Clarke, wife of Thomas Clarke, farmer, of Barnburgh, said the deceased was in her service; he had been employed by her for three years, but he had not slept in the house for a longer period than three months. He had passed all the school standards. She had not noticed anything strange in the deceased’s conduct; he was in good spirits and health, and was apparently happy. Deceased read a little, but not great deal; there was not time to read much. She last saw him alive at 4:15 on Thursday afternoon when he brought some eggs in the kitchen. Witness asked him when he found the, and deceased answered, “In the barn.” That was all that passed, and the deceased went away whistling.

She missed him at 5:15, when she “whistled” him to come to tea, and he did not answer. About 7 o’clock a little after she sent Thomas Brown to search for the deceased. She did not see the deceased afterwards, but had heard of what had happened. The two men who were giving evidence returned about 8 o’clock and found the deceased in the hayloft. There was no reason why the deceased should have committed suicide. Witness was of opinion that he had been playing with the rope.

During the time that deceased was in her house he read nothing but good books and newspapers. He read the Police News when the dynamiters were at work in London, but not since. He had read no literature of the “Dick Turpin” kind to her knowledge, and she did not believe he ever had that kind of book in his possession. He always seemed merry and comfortable, and did not appear to have anything on his mind. He had asked to go to Mexborough on Saturday night to see “the horse -riders,” and she told him that if his brother went with him he might go. He had arranged to go to Rotherham on Sunday, and she did not believe the lad ever thought of such a thing as committing suicide. Deceased was good-tempered and was as “good-natured a lad as ever lived;” she never saw him do a cruel thing.

About six weeks ago she had occasion to scalding but not getting home until half-past eight at night, but since that time she had had no occasion to do so.

A juror remarked that if the deceased was playing with the role he would not have tied a slick new like that in the rope produced.

The coroner was of opinion that the lad, been on a studious disposition, had overworked his brain when he was too young.

A Juryman, however thought the lad had not had work enough and that he had been “too well kept.” The deceased had been kindly treated.

The Coroner remarked that no one in the possession of unsound mind would commit suicide, unless something was wrong.

A Juryman stated that the deceased said many a time that he would either drown or hang himself; yet told some little girls going to Hickleton school as he would do one or the other. He did not think the deceased like sleeping alone at the farmhouse at night.

Another juryman was of opinion that the deceased had been manoeuvring with the rope, that he placed it around his neck, and had fallen down.

A verdict of “Suicide whilst suffering from temporary insanity” was returned.