Mexborough and Swinton Times, May 20th, 1932

Hanged In Cellar

Goldthorpe Man’s Suicide

Illness and Worry

A verdict of “Suicide while of temporary unsound mind” was recorded by Mr. W. H. Carlile, at an inquest on Tuesday on John Hargate (62), miner, 85, Doncaster Road, Goldthorpe.

The evidence given was to the effect that Hargate had not been able to work for the past eight years owing to heart trouble. During the last seven weeks he had been bedfast, with bronchitis, influenza and neurasthenia.

On Saturday night Mrs Hargate sat up with her husband until about five o’clock in the morning but he then insisted on her going to rest. She did not come downstairs again until 8-15, and then saw that the bed was empty and that the cellar door was slightly open. She suspected that something had happened and rushed to the door for assistance.

Luke McLoughlin, of Doncaster Road, was passing and was called. With a lighted candle he went into the cellar and there found Mr. Hargate hanging from a beam. McLoughlin then went for P.c. Fletcher, who immediately cut the man down, but found life extinct.

Dr. N. Jayakar, of Goldthorpe, said the cause of death was hanging. He added that the man had been very depressed owing to the state of his health.