Story of John's Suicide (1923)

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Bathpool, Taunton, Somerset
Surname/tag: Kerswell

SUICIDE OF JOHN KERWSELL 1836-1923

John Kerswell died on the railway line at Bathpool, Somerset on 9 Aug 1929.

Note

1. John's mother Hannah Kerswell had died ten years earlier also from suicide
2. John's age was still misrepresented as 56 when he was in fact 58.

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Western Morning News – Monday 12 August 1929

BODY ON RAILWAY LINE - SOMERSET FARM WORKER'S TRAGIC END

At Bathpool, near Taunton, on Saturday the West- Somerset deputy-coroner (Mr. F. W. Willmott) held an inquest on John Kerswell, 56, a farm stockman, living at Bathpool, whose mutilated body, with the head completely severed, w.as found the Great Western Railway line near the village early the previous morning.

The verdict returned was that deceased was killed a passing train and was at the time of unsound mind.

William Henry Kerswell and Reginald Kerswell (sons) described how they searched for their father throughout the neighbourhood between 4.15 and 6 a.m. on Friday, and eventually discovered his body on the railway line near Bathpool Bridge.

Reginald Kerswell, who lives at home, said he was called his mother at 4 a.m. end told his father had gone out and not returned. He looked for him in the garden and then went to his brother's house to get help in the search. He had never heard his father threaten take his life, neither had any other member of the family. His father had been home from work for several weeks suffering from a nervous breakdown, but he had seemed to be improving during the past week.

Constable Lippett gave evidence of the discovery of the body.

Dr. F. R. Todd, of Creech Hi. Michael, stated that had been attending deceased for six weeks His principal trouble was insomnia, but had appeared getting better. In his condition he might net know exactly what he was doing.

The coroner recorded a verdict stated.

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Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser - Wednesday 14 August 1929

BATHPOOL TRAGEDY - LABOURER’S BODY ON RAILWAY LINE - SON'S SHOCKING DISCOVERY

The Deputy-Coroner for West Somerset, Mr. F. W. Willmott, held enquiry at the Church-room. Bathpool, on Saturday, relative the death of John Kerswell, aped 56, an agricultural labourer, of Bathpool, whose decapitated body was found on the railway line between Taunton and Bathpool early on Friday morning.

P.C. Lippett was the Coroner's Officer.

Nervous Breakdown.

Wm. Henry Kerswell, son of deceased, gave evidence of identification. He stated that he hist saw his father alive on the previous Sunday. Hearing on Friday morning, about 4.20, that his father was missing, he accompanied his brother, Reginald Walter Kerswell, on a search. As he had been in the habit of a taking walk, they went along the main road, but were unable to find him. They thought might have lost his memory, and they searched the various roads until 5.50 a.m., but without success. They then set out to a sister's house at Blackbrook. Whilst crossing the railway bridge it commenced raining, and they decided shelter under the bridge and see if he had taken shelter there, as he had often gone there on a Sunday afternoon. They went to the side of the bridge and saw that was not there, and witness’s brother walked on to the line and exclaimed, “Oh, my God, Will.” and stopped. Witness went forward and saw the body his father lying on the line. He had been ill for about six weeks suffering from a nervous breakdown.

Reginald Walter Kerswell stated that he resided with his father. About four o'clock Friday morning his mother called him, stating that his father had gone out and had not returned. He searched for his father with his brother, the last witness. On going on to the railway line he saw the body his father lying in the pathway. He reported the matter to P.C. Lippett. His father had never threatened lake his life.

Unsound Mind

P.C. Lippett stated that at 6.15 a.m. on Friday received a report from the last witness to the effect that he had found the body of his father lying near the metals on the railway line at Bathpool, near the railway bridge. Witness went to the spot and found the body lying on the pathway at the side of the down line, at practically right angles the metals, the head being completely severed from the body and lying between the metals about two feet from the body; the shoulders of the deceased were close the metals. About 26 paces from the laxly was trilby hat lying on the grass bank the side. Dr. Francis Richard Todd, of Creech St. Michael, stated that had attended the deceased for six weeks for nervous breakdown. He was unable to sleep, and was very restless night. Witness thought he was getting better. He would not likely to know what he was doing.

Inspector Wm. J. Morrish, district traffic inspector, G.W.R., stated that all engines of the down trains which passed the spot between three a.m. and six a.m. had been examined, but nothing had been found enable them to determine which train actually caused the death of the deceased.

The Coroner, in summing up, said that in the opinion the doctor the deceased was not responsible for his actions, and his verdict would that he was killed by a passing train whilst unsound mind. He added that one could not but feel sympathy with the relatives in their unfortunate loss, as the doctor thought might have recovered.