South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 23 May 1942

Tragic End of Mexborough Business Man

The death took on Sunday evening of Mr. John Naylor Barker (65), of Moorgate Hall, Moorgate, Rotherham.

For twenty years Mr. Barker carried on a business as a confectioner at High Street, Mexborough, but he had disposed of the business some years ago. Mr. Barker was a director of the Mexborough Development Company and Mexborough Investment Company. He took no part in public life either at Rotherham, where he lived, or at Mexborough.

In view of circumstances associated with the death, an inquest was held by the Rotherham Borough Coroner, Mr. W. J. Bradford, on Monday.

Dr. E. Vire, house physician at Rotherham General Hospital, said the cause of death asphyxia due to hanging.

Mrs. Agnes Mary Barker, widow, in evidence described how on Sunday evening she went out to the post office, leaving Mr. Barker at home. Just before Christmas last he was very ill and was admitted to Clifton Lane Nursing Home where he stayed as a patient four weeks. She was away from the house only about ten minutes and on returning did not see him. She did not look for him until a little later when she found him in a downstairs room in a crouching position. In further evidence the fact was disclosed that a rope had been used.

The Coroner expressed sympathy with Mrs. Barker and said it would be his duty to record a verdict of suicide and that at the time Mr. Barker’s mind was temporarily disturbed.

The funeral took place on Wednesday at Moorgate Cemetery, Rotherham.