POISONED HIMSELF.
Feared Monotony More than Death.
Yesterday, at the Westminster Coroner's-court, Mr. John Troutbeck held an inquiry with reference to the death of Neville Claude Thomson, 24, a stockjobber's clerk, lately residing at Richmond-road, Kingston, who committed suicide at Charing Cross Hotel on Saturday.
Mr. John W. Dais, a stockjobber, identified the deceased as his nephew, and said he was a bachelor. He had been to South Africa as a Volunteer in Paget's Horse, but had never threatened suicide. He was in very good circumstances. He had written to two friends, and the letters might throw some light on the matter.
The Coroner read one of the letters, in which the deceased wrote: - "I fear monotony more than death.....I would rather meet my death like poor old Will. His death was a great blow to me. I am running away from no business troubles, and there is no woman in the case."
Mr. Dais informed the coroner that "Will" referred to in the letter was shot in a trench by the side of Thomson in South Africa.
Francis Thomas, reception clerk at Charing Cross Hotel, stated that on Friday last Thomson engaged a room, and did not seem strange in his manner.
The medical evidence showed that death was due to morphia poisoning.
The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity."
Evening Express, Thursday 11th February 1904
His birth was registered at Staines, in the third quarter of 1880.