Home Crime Suicide Goldthorpe Tragedy of Gas and Wounds – Gassed In Kitchen

Goldthorpe Tragedy of Gas and Wounds – Gassed In Kitchen

August 1928

Mexborough and Swinton Times August 31, 1928

Gassed In Kitchen

Goldthorpe Tragedy of Gas and Wounds.

“There is no doubt deceased was worried for some time. Whether the wounds and war service have anything to do with it I can’t say. I find a verdict that deceased committed suicide whilst of unsound. mind,” said Mr. W. Carlile, the deputy Coroner, at the inquest at the Horse and Groom Hotel, Goldthorpe, on Friday on Peter Murray (53). miner, of 26, Holmcroft Road, Goldthorpe, who, as we reported last week, was found dead with a rain coat over’ his head and a gas tube near, in the kitchen at his home on the morning of ‘August 23.

The widow, Mrs. Bridget Murray, said her husband had been ill and nervous for some time. On Wednesday` morning he took her a pot of tea upstairs at about 6.30. He seemed in his usual health, and went downstairs again, telling her he was going to have a bath. Shortly after 8.30 she went down and found the kitchen door locked. She went round to the back of the house and found the door there locked also. She called her son-in-law, who lived next door, and he forced an entrance through the window to find Murray as stated.

Murray, she added, was gassed twice during the war. Four years ago he was thrown through the wind-screen of a motor car and received injuries to his head.

James Austin, a stoker, 29, Holmcroft Road, Goldthorpe, son-in-law of the dead man, said when he pulled the rain coat from Murray’s head a tube attached to the gas jet fell away. Witness tried artificial respiration without effect.

Dr. George Horn said he had attended deceased at intervals for minor ailments — rheumatism, chest troubles and headaches. He recently complained of being run down ;