South Yorkshire Times, January 6th, 1933
Mexboro’ Man’s Suicide
Depressed by Illness and Bereavement
A verdict of “Suicide whilst of unsound mind” was returned by the Doncaster District Coroner, (Mr. A. W. Carlisle) at the inquest on Wednesday at Warmsworth, on Frank Ashton (33), railway signal fitter of Pym Road, Mexborough. Ashton had been missing for twelve days and his body was taken from the Don at Levitt Hagg on Tuesday morning. He left a note in his bedroom “Leave everything I have to Carrie” (his wife).
James Ashton, a brother of deceased, from Ashton-under-Lyne, said he last saw his brother alive at the funeral of another brother at Ashton six week before. He was then in good health and made no complaint.
May Senior, a certified nurse, said she has been lodging at Ashton’s house at Mexboro’ for twelve months. She had noticed a change in deceased since the death of his brother. He had become more depressed during the last few weeks, and his wife had been ill with tonsilitis. He was in regular work. I was very surprised. He was the last man in the world I thought would do this. He was so very level-headed.”
Ashton, she continued, left home on December 20th about 2 p.m. saying he was going for some cigarettes. He left a note on his bedroom table addressed to his wife. When they had read it, they thought he might have taken his life, but did not expect it.
The body was seen floating in the Don by Charles Wright, an unemployed miner, on Tuesday. It was about a hundred yards from his house. He brought it to the bank with a boathook and took it out with the assistance of Pc. Linton. “I was very surprised” she said.
P.c. Linton said there was 1s 10 ½ d in his pockets and a knife.
The Coroner said Ashton had apparently been suffering from depression caused by the death of his brother and the illness of his wife, and had been left in a low state by an attack of influenza. He returned the verdict as above.