Bromley & District Times, Friday 11 July 1890.

SAD SUICIDE AT DAY'S FARM.

On Saturday evening an inquest was held before Dr. Carttar, at the "Black Horse Inn," Halfway Street on the body of John Oxley, farmer, 64 years of age, of Day's Farm, Day's Lane, Bexley.

The Jury consisted of the following:- Messrs. W. Austin (foreman), S. Woodman, W. Lane, R. Cheaney, Sidney Brown, Falward Cousins, Arthur Martin, H Chaimberlain, James Brown, George Parker, H. Smith, and William Willis.

The first witness called was Mrs. Eleanor Oxley, who said that she lived at Day's Farm, Day's Lane, Bexley. The deceased had been ailing for two or three years. He had complained of his head and chest, and had had a bad foot. She last saw the deceased alive about nine o'clock on Thursday morning. She saw Lewry, the foreman, about one o'clock, and asked him if the deceased had been to the hayloft. Lewry said he had not. In about a quarter of an hour the foreman came and told her he had found the deceased hanging in the cart shed. She asked him if he thought he was alive, and if he had cut him down. Lewry said he did not know whether he was alive or not, and she gave him a knife to cut the rope. When she reached the shed the deceased had just been cut down. She sent for the doctor and Dr. Ford came. The deceased had had trouble in connection with his farming business, but he had never threatened to destroy himself. When she spoke about going down to a flower show he said she would be sorry if she went. She could not account for his being found where he was. When she found that he had not taken either his stick or umbrella she sent a man to look for him. The seasons had been bad for two or three years, but the landlord would not make any reduction. Deceased said that it was not worth while to farm.

The next witness was J. Lewry, labourer, who worked for the deceased. He stated that when he saw the deceased on Thursday at the door of his house he appeared the same as he (witness) was. When he saw Mrs. Oxley she asked him if he had seen Mr. Oxley, and when he said he had not she said it was very strange. She asked him to go and look for him and did so. He found the deceased hanging by the neck to a rafter in the cow house, and went and told Mrs. Oxley, who asked him why he did not cut him down. He replied that he had not got a knife. Mrs. Oxley then gave him a knife, and he went to the shed, got on a ladder and cut him down. There were no signs of life. He had never heard the deceased threaten to commit suicide.

Dr. Ford, Eltham, said that when he saw the lady the deceased had been dead some hours. He found a deep indenture round the neck such as would be produced by a rope. Death was due to asphyxia. His partner had attended deceased, why had an inflamed led and diseased lungs. Lately the deceased had complained of mental depression and heart symptoms. His leg would give him a great deal of pain.

Sergeant Burridge, 32 R, said that the rope was tied to one beam and hung over another. Deceased's feet would be almost three feet from the ground. The ladder was almost a yard from the body, and he thought the deceased used it to get up to the beam.

The Jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased committed suicide whilst of unsound mind.