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THE LATE MR. CARLTON.—This afternoon the County Coroner (Edgar Goble, Esq.) will hold an enquiry at the King’s Head, Hilsea, touching the death of Mr. Carlton, grocer, wine and spirit merchant, late of Lake-road, who was found drowned on Saturday morning in Hilsea Pond. The body is at present lying in a shed at the back of the King’s Head.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Tuesday 07 October, 1879 (source)
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SUICIDE OF A LANDPORT TRADESMAN.—On Wednesday morning the County Coroner (E. Goble, Esq.) held an inquest at the King’s Head, Hilsea, on the body of A. J. Carlton, aged 38 years, who lately carried on business at 105, Lake-road, Landport. John Newton stated that he had served an apprenticeship with the deceased about two years ago, and had assisted him for about three weeks before his death. While he was serving his apprenticeship the deceased was of a cheerful disposition; but occasionally he got the worse for liquor. During the last few weeks he had been negligent in his business, and somewhat strange in his manner, wandering from one subject to another while in conversation. On the previous Wednesday morning the deceased told witness that he was going to Copnor for orders. There was nothing noticeable in his manner; but it was unusual for him to go for orders. He had never heard the deceased threaten to commit suicide. The handwriting on the paper produced was the deceased’s. It was as follows:—“Kingston Cross, September 30th, 1879. Dear Mr. Jacob. Can I beg of you to look after my dear wife and children. My dear Ada, be a good girl and kind to ma. My dear children, I beg of you all not to drink—it is perdition. Dear Mr. Jacob, this is all through drink. Please look after my dear wife and children. I know that they will take the advice of you. Oh that you were here to stop this dreadful deed.” On the morning in question the deceased was not the worse for liquor, but he was on the previous Friday. He was in the habit of attending Kingston Church with his wife, of which Mr. Jacob is vicar. He was not aware that the deceased had any pecuniary difficulties. On the following day the body of the deceased was seen in a pond in a field at Hog’s Head Bottom, Hilsea, and was got out by a man named Knight, and then handed over to the charge of Police-constable Brushwood who deposited it in a shed at the back of the King’s Head. There was no appearance of any scuffle having taken place near the pond. In an adjoining field an order-book belonging to the deceased was found. Mr. J. Pannell, grocer, of Fratton-road, said he had known the deceased for the last 12 years, and had often seen him the worse for liquor. During the last three months he had been very much depressed in manner.—There were no marks of violence on the body, which was examined by Dr. Martin, of Cosham: and the jury returned a verdict of “Suicide while in an unsound state of mind.”
— Hampshire Post and Southsea Observer, Friday 10 October, 1879 (source)