CHESTER SOLDIER'S TRAGIC DEATH.
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SAD STORY FROM NESTON.
....A sad story, which will appeal to the sympathy of our readers, was unfolded at an inquest presided over by Mr. J. C. Bate, Cheshire coroner, at the Neston Police Station on Wednesday, concerning the tragic death of Private Skelley, of the 3rd Battalion Cheshire Regiment. After twelve months' service on the battlefields of South Africa the deceased recently returned to his home at Chester and found that his wife had disappeared, leaving no word as to her whereabouts. Having left his two children in the care of his mother, he went to Neston on Monday to search for his missing wife, and in a despairing moment he was heard to exclaim "This job will break my heart." The same night a cyclist discovered him lying on the roadside with a fatal gash in his throat and an open razor by his side.
.... The first witness, Sergeant Charles Johnson, of the permanent staff of the 3rd Battalion Cheshire Regiment, residing in Chester, gave evidence of identification. Skelley, he added, formerly belonged to the 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment, and was called up twelve months ago as a Reservist to fight in South Africa. It was evident that he went on furlough from Chester. Witness had not seen Skelley since he left India some few years ago.
....Mr. Bate: Was there anything particular about the appearance of the deceased for you to identify him as Private Skelley? Witness: Yes. He had some peculiar tattoo marks on both arms. They were stained on the skin in India, and my arms were marked in a similar way about the same time.—Continuing, Sergeant Johnson said deceased had probably served in a reserve force for the "colours" for about seven years, and during that time he was engaged in active service in India, where he served with a Police Company. When he departed from India Skelley was not married, so far as he (witness) knew. His age would be 30 years at the most. He had evidently returned from South Africa a few days ago as an invalid.
....Thomas Woodward, a gardener, employed by Mr. Pemberton, Mount Cottage, Hinderton, said he was working in the garden about four o'clock on Monday afternoon, when he saw deceased leaning his head against the yard gate, apparently in a very weak state of health. Witness went to his assistance and brought him some food, afterwards taking him to an outbuilding, where he sat down. Witness engaged in conversation with Skelley, who said he returned from South Africa ten days ago, and on arriving at Chester found his wife had disappeared two days ago, leaving two children for him to maintain and look after. He had come to Neston in search of her, but all his enquiries had proved unsuccessful. Skelley then exclaimed, "Oh, mate, this job will just break my heart." Deceased also mentioned that his children were in charge of his mother somewhere in the city. Seeing that deceased was very low-spirited, witness endeavoured to change the subject, and Skelley then talked for some little time of many engagements he had experienced abroad.
....Mr. Bate: Did Skelley seem to be quite right in his mind?—Witness: Yes. He talked quite rationally, although he was undoubtedly in great trouble concerning his wife. He seemed to know nothing as to her whereabouts. On his leaving Mount Cottage I said, "Well, I wish you good luck," and deceased replied "Same to you, mate, and God bless you." It would be about 4.30 p.m. when Skelley left the house, which would be nearly three miles away from the place near Puddington where he was found quite dead some time later. Deceased was quite sober.
....Charles Edward Cash, Rock Cottage, Little Sutton, said he was cycling along Chester-road near Puddington shortly after six o'clock on Monday evening, when he heard screams, which proceeded from the roadside. He noticed a dog looking intently on the ground a few yards ahead, and he then saw a man on his knees, struggling and waving his arms about. Witness went straight on and gave information of what he had seen to another man at Puddington. They returned together with a light, and subsequently discovered deceased lying on the grass by the roadside with his throat severely cut. He appeared to be quite dead at the time. Skelley's clothing was stained with blood, and an open razor (produced) was found by his side. The razor was also stained with blood.
....Mr. Bate: What caused you to cycle straight to Puddington before going to the assistance of Skelley when you saw him in distress?—Witness: I thought perhaps he was intoxicated or something like that.
....Mr. Bate: Did you see any other person about at the time? - Witness: No, I did not.
....P.C. Bostock said he had examined the body, and found that the wound inflicted was over an inch deep, the windpipe having been severed.
....Mr. Bate, in summing up, remarked on the sad circumstances attending the death of Skelley, and said there was not the slightest doubt that the wound was self-inflicted. The witness Cash had perhaps not acted in the way he might have done, but then the injuries to Skelley were fatal in any case.
....The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased committed suicide, but that there was no evidence to shew the state of his mind at the time he committed the act.
A HALLUCINATION.
....The funeral took place at St. Winefrede's Roman Catholic Church, Neston, on Saturday. From a conversation our representative had with a brother of the deceased, Patrick Skelley, 138, Bolton-road, Elton, Bury, Lancashire, it appears that deceased was a member of the 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiment, his number being 3,202. He had served in South Africa, and had been in numerous engagements before he was invalided home. On their return to Southampton deceased and his comrades were presented with numerous useful gifts from the Princess of Wales, the hollow-ground razor with which the act was committed being one of them. Deceased was unmarried, but when he visited his brother at Elton he was drinking spirits heavily, and there was no doubt that he was suffering from hallucinations. His manner caused his brother to hide the razors from him when he was visiting him. He left Elton the day before Christmas Day.
The Chester Courant, Wednesday 9th January 1901
