The report of Whitehead's death also appeared in several regional newspapers around the country. His death was recorded in South Shields, aged 22 - there was a Charles Hugh Tempest Whitehead born in Scarborough in the first quarter of 1881, but that would give him an age of 21 in September 1902, so perhaps they're not the same man.
Can he be definitely identified as having served in the Imperial Yeomanry?
LOVE TRAGEDY IN SOUTH SHIELDS.
POLICE-CONSTABLE'S SUICIDE.
SHOT THROUGH THE HEAD.
....A painful love tragedy occurred at South Shields shortly after midnight on Sunday, the victim, who died by his own hands, being Police-Constable Charles Whitehead, a member of the South Shields constabulary.
....The deceased lodged in Roman Road, and about a quarter to one o'clock this morning, after he had retired to his bedroom, he shot himself through the head with a revolver. The report of the firearms roused the inmates of the house, and the deceased was found lying on the floor in an unconscious state, bleeding from a shot wound above the right temple. The revolver, which is a six-chambered weapon, was lying on the floor beside him.
....Assistance was speedily obtained, and all that it was possible to do for him was done, but he never regained consciousness. He was removed to the Ingham Infirmary about two o'clock this morning, where he died a few hours afterwards.
....The cause ot the suicide is an unrequited love. Apparently the deceased had conceived a deep attachment for a young woman who had not returned his affection, and to whom he has left a letter stating that he could not live without her, and declaring his intention of ending his existence.
....The tragedy has created a painful sensation in the district and among the members of the police force, with whom the deceased was very popular. He belongs to Scarborough, where his family still reside, and joined the force in South Shields in May last. His superior officers speak in high admiration of the way he performed his duties, and regarded him as a very promising officer. He was 22 years of age.
....Deceased was a member of the Imperial Yeomanry, and saw active service in South Africa during the recent campaign before coming to South Shields.
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THE INQUEST.
REJECTED IN LOVE.
....An inquest was held at South Shields to-day, before Mr J. Graham, coroner, on the body of Police Constable Charles Whitehead, who committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver.
....Jenny Hilton Rowe was the first witness called. She said she lived with her mother at 29 Roman Road. The deceased, Charles Whitehead, who was 22 years of age, lodged with them. She kept company with the deceased for about three months, but latterly they had not been going together. On Sunday night he came in about 10-20, and changed his plain clothes for his uniform. He had his supper, and remained in the kitchen till midnight. He then went to his own room. He had asked her to go out that night, but she had declined. The letter produced was in the deceased's hand-writing, and was addressed to her.
....P.C. Whitelaw said he was on duty in Ocean Road at 1-45 this morning, when he received information from P.C. Walker that something had happened to P.C. Whitehead at 29 Roman Road. He went to that address, and proceeded into the deceased's bedroom. There was no light in the room. He turned his lamp on the deceased, who was lying on his back on the floor. He was fully dressed in his uniform, excepting his helmet and boots. His right hand was across his breast, and a revolver was lying at his left side, it evidently having dropped there out of his hand. There was a bullet wound on the right side of his head, which was lying in a pool of blood. He was quite unconscious. He sent for a doctor, and afterwards he had Whitehead conveyed in an ambulance to the Infirmary. He found the letter produced, which was in an open envelope and addressed to the last witness, lying in the centre of the deceased's bed. Only one chamber of the revolver had been charged and fired. The deceased had seen service at the front, and would be perfectly acquainted with the handling of a weapon of that kind.
....Dr Sutherland said on Saturday, the 31st ult., about seven o'clock in the evening, he received information by telephone that P.C. Chas. Whitehead, the deceased, was ill. He saw that officer about half-an-hour afterwards. He seemed a little stupid, and complained of pains in his head. From all he found, he (witness) was of the opinion that the officer had had a fit of epilepsy. About two o'clock this morning he received a telephone message that P.C Whitehead had shot himself in the head. He ordered his removal to the Infirmary. He believed that Whitehead was not responsible for his actions when he committed that act. He was evidently an epileptic and epileptic people were subject to fits of temporary insanity. No doubt it was during one of those fits that he shot himself.
....P.C. Whitelaw, recalled, said, in reply to the Coroner, that whatever trouble the deceased had it was not in connection with anything relating to his duties as a policeman. There was no complaint against him of any kind.
....The Coroner said that in accordance with a rule which he had always laid down, he would regard the deceased's letter as a private letter, intended only for the person to whom it was addressed. He objected to letters written in that way being given to the public outside to gloat over it and satisfy their curiosity about what was not meant for them, and which they had nothing whatever to do with. He was pained sometimes with what he read in the newspapers as to what went on in this way. As it was necessary for the jury to come to a judgment upon that inquiry he would allow the foreman to read it for his assistance in that way.
....The Foreman of the Jury perused the letter, and after brief consultation the jury found that the deceased committed suicide while suffering from temporary insanity, due probably to epilepsy.
Shields Daily Gazette, Monday 8th September 1902
