SUICIDE AND INFANTICIDE 1922

(Ilkeston Pioneer 22nd Dec 1922 p. 3)

   THE STANLEY TRAGEDY

VERDICTS OF SUICIDE AND INFANTICIDE

   The circumstances surrounding the tragedy at Stanley were inquired into on Wednesday by Mr F E Moult, the Deputy Coroner, who held an inquest in the Wesleyan Chapel, Stanley.

   The Coroner said they had met to inquire into the death of Annie May Hancock - in fact into two deaths because the child, Eric Hancock, had since died.

   A jury of 14 had been enpanelled, and the inquest on Mrs Hancock was first held.

   Walter Jos. Hancock said " I live at Morley Lane, Stanley, and am a colliery fireman. Deceased was my wife and she was 28 years of age. On 27th Nov she was confined of a male child, afterwards named Eric. She was in a very nervous condition prior to the birth of the child. She also complained of pains in her head. Her mental condition improved after the confinement for the first week, but about a week ago she became nervous and depressed again, and talked about being taken to Mickleover, saying "Don't let them take me." She had never threatened to take her life. I left home at 1.30 pm to go to work, when she seemed very cheerful. I left her in the house with my two children - a boy named Frank aged two years, and Eric aged 3 weeks. I returned home at 9.30 pm and found the house in darkness, and the kitchen fire nearly out. There was a strong smell of Lysol in the house, the disinfectant having been used by the nurse at the confinement. The bottle prescribed  would be more than three parts full. I went upstairs and found my wife unconscious on the floor. She was fully dressed, but unable to speak to me. The two children were on the bed, the baby being stone cold. Frank was at the foot and the baby at the head of the bed. Frank rolled over and called "Daddy." There were marks on the faces of my wife and both children. He found the Lysol bottle produced practically empty on the dressing table, with the cork out. The label on the bottle had on it the word "Poison" printed in red. He also found another empty bottle marked "Poison" which had contained eye-wash for the baby's eyes. The bottle was half full when I left for work earlier in the day. I went for assistance, and sent for a doctor. Mrs Miles came in shortly afterwards, and also Dr Adams. My wife died the same night, and my son Eric the following day. My other boy was going on all right. I gave him an emetic of salt and water as soon as I got him downstairs. The children were dressed in their day clothes, as was my wife. The table was left just as it was when I went to work, and the dinner things were just as I left them."

   Dr Archibald Crawford Adams, of West Hallam, said " I attended Mrs Hancock prior to and after her confinement. I saw her first in October, when she said she dreaded her confinement and had an obsession that she would not get through it. I advised her to have a companion, as she could not get rid of the idea. I thought she would be all right after her confinement. She seemed more cheerful afterwards, and the nurse reported that she was settling down. I did not see her until I was called on Monday night at 10.30. I found her lying on the floor, between the bed and fireplace. She was deeply unconscious, and in a dying condition. I applied restoratives, but she died the same night soon after 11 o'clock. Her face was burnt round her mouth by Lysol. The eyewash would not be strong enough to have any effect. I was of opinion she had drunk a quantity of Lysol, and that it had also been given to her two children. The cause of death was Lysol poisoning."

   Mrs Annie Miles, widow, of Morley Lane, said " I have known Mrs Hancock seven years, and saw her frequently. She was occasionally depressed before her confinement, but got better afterwards. I went to see her most days, but did not go on Monday, when I was away from home until six pm, when I saw her house was in darkness. I was called in by the husband at 9.30, when I found Dr Adams there, attending deceased and the baby, and I looked after Frank. Mrs Hancock died at 11.30. I had seen the Lysol bottle produced, and there was a good quantity in it."

   The Coroner did not think the jury would have any difficulty in deciding that Mrs Hancock died from Lysol poisoning, self-administered, and that she was not in her normal state of mind.

   The jury returned a verdict of "suicide by Lysol poisoning, durin temporary insanity." 

   The inquest on the child, Eric Hancock, was held next, when the evidence was practically repeated.

   Dr Adams said that he had made a post-mortem examination of the body of the child, and was convinced that death was due to Lysol poisoning, and to burns he found on the face, neck and tongue. A teaspoonful of Lysol would be sufficient to poison so young a child. 

   The Coroner said that it was a very serious matter, but there would be no difficulty as to the cause of death, but the jury would have to consider if their verdict would be one of murder or infanticide, as they were entitled to bring an infanticide verdict under the Infanticide Act of last year.

   The jury returned a verdict of "infanticide" against the mother.

   The jury expressed their sympathy with Mr Hancock, with which the Coroner said he hoped he would console himself.

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