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Ernest Josiah Poole, South African Protectorate Regt - suicide on 6.4.1904 6 years 10 months ago #58000

  • BereniceUK
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Mafeking Defender's Suicide.

Josiah Poole, brother of Mr. Harry Poole, formerly sergeant-instructor of the Carmarthen companies of the 1st Volunteer Battalion Welsh Regiment, was found on Wednesday night at the White Horse Inn, Priory-street, Carmarthen, with his throat cut with a razor, as a result of which he died.

Poole had been in Carmarthen with his brother for some time. He had evinced signs of insanity, had been under treatment at the Carmarthen Asylum, and had been discharged about three months ago. He was an Army man, and was invalided after being wounded at Mafeking, after serving through the South African campaign in a Protectorate regiment. He had also seen active service on the Indian frontier.
The Cambrian, Friday 8th April 1904
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A Determined Suicide at Carmarthen.
SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE.

Quite a sensation was caused throughout Carmarthen on the night of the 30th ult., when the news was spread about that Ernest Joshua (Josh) Poole, an army pensioner, had committed suicide at the White Horse Inn, Priory Street, by cutting his throat with a rasor. Details of the rash act are given below in our report of the Inquest. The unfortunate man was well-known in the town, being a brother of the late Sergt. Instructor of the local detachment of the volunteers, Colour Sergeant Poole. During his being stationed at the Indian Frontier army engagement he saw a lot of active service, and serving through the Egyptian War. After taking his discharge from the Army, so strong was his delight for military life, that he joined the South African Protectorate Regiment, with which he nearly served two years, being invalided out of the corps through lameness, caused by his knee cap being shot off by a splinter from a Boer shell during the siege of Mafeking, in which town he was locked up with General Baden Powell. The deceased was a smart soldier and highly esteemed by his comrades.

The following paragraph, culled from a Plymouth contemporary, which relates to the deceased, will be read with interest: -
"One of Dr. Jameson's Troopers. - Mr. J. Poole, a son of our respected townsman, Sergt.-Major Poole, was one of Dr. Jameson's troopers who arrived at Plymouth on Sunday, and he has since returned to Winchester. Trooper Poole, who is a well set-up athletic young fellow of seven or eight and twenty, was in the Mounted Police, but volunteered for service with Dr. Jameson. His story is much the same as that of the other troopers. They were, he says, for two days and-a-half practically without food or water; they occasionally came across water, but it was foul and stagnant, and they sustained themselves as best they could with chewing tobacco, with which they were luckily well supplied. In the engagement two horses were shot under young Poole. When one horse was shot he ran and caught another, and he had his foot in the stirrup, and was in the act of mounting, when this poor beat too was shot, and Poole was covered with its blood. He himself escaped without a scratch, but a trooper next to him was shot in the cheek, the bullet passing through and shattering his jaw, but not killing him. They were unable to see the Boers, and the first they knew was that they were being riddled with bullets. After their surrender their fate hung in the balance, and it was even asserted that the Boers had drawn whether they should shoot them, it being decided by a majority of two to save their lives. Poole, like the whole of the troopers, in unwavering in his praise of Dr. Jameson, whom he describes as a splendid fellow. The troopers at one time believed that certain death was before them, but not a man amongst them flinched, and no matter where "Dr. Jim" had gone, or what he had bid them to do, there was not a man but would have cheerfully obeyed him. When they were in the hands of the Boers all Dr. Jameson's concern was for his men, and he told the captors over and over again that he was utterly regardless what they did to him so long as they spared his men. Without saying anything further Trooper Poole is firm in his opinion that Dr. Jameson and his force were duped."

Trooper Poole served in the Matabele War and was attached to the late Major Wilson's column. He was one of the few who escaped when Lobengula entrapped the detachment, and almost annihilated it. His medal for this has unfortunately been lost.
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THE INQUEST.

On the 31st ult., at the White Horse Inn, Priory Street, Mr. Thomas Walters, coroner, held an inquest on the body, Mr. Robert Jones, Oak House, being foreman of the jury.

Samuel Evans, landlord of the White Horse Inn, said that the deceased had been lodging with him for the past five or six weeks. Deceased was a discharged Army pensioner, and was 37 years of age. He was in good health and never complained of illness. In witness' opinion there was nothing the matter with him. On the 30th ult., he went out into the yard about 3 p.m., and started sweeping the yard - a self-imposed task. He appeared to be mentally strong and just before 8 o'clock went upstairs to his bedroom, taking with him as usual a candle and the evening paper. Shortly afterwards witness heard groaning, and his wife told him to run upstairs. He did so at once, and on going into deceased's bedroom, saw the deceased lying on his back with his throat cut from ear to ear. Witness was so frightened at seeing such a spectacle, that he did not know whether the deceased was dead or alive. He went quickly for Dr. Price. Witness knew nothing about deceased, except that he had heard that he had been to the Asylum.

P.S. Davies here produced the blood stained razor with which the deed had been committed, and holding it before the jury, pointed out that it had been used with such force that a piece had broken off. - Evans said that he saw the deceased using the razor on the Monday previous.

Dr. R. G. Price said that he saw the deceased shortly after 8 p.m., and found him with his throat cut. Apparently he had stood before the looking-glass when committing the act, in order that he might see that he did it properly (sensation). It was a determined case of suicide, as deceased divided all the main structures in front of the vertebra - the windpipe and all large blood vessels - right through. Deceased breathed once or twice after he went in, but he was unconscious and dying. He had heard that deceased had been in the Asylum. When examining deceased's throat he cut his finger, very probably with the piece of razor that was missing, and which had stuck in his throat.

P.S. Davies said there was a great deal of trouble with the deceased in September last, when he was staying with his brother at 12, John Street. He was raving mad then, and on the 11th September he was certified insane by Drs. Williams and Parry, and taken by witness to the Joint Counties Lunatic Asylum. Deceased was discharged from the Institution about the end of January last.

The jury returned a verdict of "suicide whilst of unsound mind."

The funeral took place on Saturday at the Cemetery, and was of a semi-military nature, a large number of the Yeomanry, Volunteers, and Militia attending in uniform.
The Carmarthen Journal, Friday 8th April 1904
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Ernest Josiah Poole, South African Protectorate Regt - suicide on 6.4.1904 6 years 10 months ago #58004

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Thanks Berenice, another suicide!

Wounded 26-12-1899, must have been a painful five months for him before comprehensive medical care arrived when the siege was lifted.

Unfortunately I can't trace his regular army service.
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Ernest Josiah Poole, South African Protectorate Regt - suicide on 6.4.1904 6 years 10 months ago #58005

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Perhaps driven insane through the effects of sunstroke?

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Ernest Josiah Poole, South African Protectorate Regt - suicide on 6.4.1904 6 years 10 months ago #58009

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BereniceUK wrote: Perhaps driven insane through the effects of sunstroke?


I was thinking the pain of having his knee cap shot off could have been a factor. From members of my family I know that badly executed knee surgery can result in more pain than before - let alone a wound like his.
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Ernest Josiah Poole, South African Protectorate Regt - suicide on 6.4.1904 6 years 10 months ago #58016

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SWB wrote:

BereniceUK wrote: Perhaps driven insane through the effects of sunstroke?


I was thinking the pain of having his knee cap shot off could have been a factor. From members of my family I know that badly executed knee surgery can result in more pain than before - let alone a wound like his.


I have to agree fully as I was shot in the knee and felt like sometimes chopping my leg off due to the pain..... Could not even get from the bedroom to the bathroom sometimes..... Now that I have had the knee replaced I sometimes wait for the pain to strike but it doesn't with great relief...... Cannot run a marathon yet, but then again never could.....
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