Sheffield and Rotherham Independent (27/Feb/1896) - A Huddersfield Sensation: Suicide of a Deacon

The following is a transcription of a historic newspaper article and may contain occasional errors. If the article was published prior to 1 June 1957, then the text is likely in the Public Domain.

A HUDDERSFIELD SENSATION

SUICIDE OF A DEACON.

Last evening Mr. Barstow, J.P., district coroner, held an inquest at Holmfirth concerning the death of John Ralph Cuthbert, 51, cashier, of Huddersfield (a deacon at Paddock Congregational Chapel), who was found drowned on Monday in a Holmfirth reservoir.

From the evidence of the son it appeared that on the 16th ult. his father went to meet a young woman whom it was alleged he had been writing to. He met a detective instead of the lady, and at once gave his name and address. Witness saw him the same evening, and the nest day his father went to the firm where he had beei. cashier for thirty years and made a will, but left it unwitnessed. They had noticed that he had not had lately the concentration of thought ho was noted for, and they accounted for the act that it was due to aberration of mind. Evidence was given as to the finding of the body, etc., and a verdict of suicide was returned.