Kentish Gazette, 16 July 1844.

Determined Suicide.

An inquest was held on Thursday morning, at the "Harrow," at Brompton, before John Hinde, Esq., coroner, on view of the body of William Bagshaw, who had destroyed himself on the previous day by jumping down a well. It appeared that the deceased kept a boy's school in Ordnance-place, Chatham. On complaining to some of his neighbours of being ill, he was advised to go home to his father, who is a paper-maker, residing at Manor-street Brompton. On Wednesday morning, whilst conversing with his mother, she thought his manner more strange than usual, and called in Holloway, the policeman, who, after conversing with him a short time, advised his mother to send for Mr. Weeks, the surgeon, who promptly attended, and advised that he should be closely watched, but did not think it necessary for him to be placed under restraint. It seems, however, that shortly after Mr. Weeks and the policeman had left the house, he took the opportunity upon his mother’s back being turned, to rush into the washhouse, in which the well is situated, and throw himself headlong into it. His mother, upon hearing the door slam, followed closely after, but not in time to save him. She immediately gave the alarm, assistance was procured, and he was got up quite dead. The jury returned a verdict of "Temporary insanity," which it seems was chiefly induced by delirium tremens. The well is between 130 and 140 feet deep.