Folkestone
Herald 16-4-1932
Wednesday, April 13th: Before Alderman R.G.
Wood and other Magistrates.
The licence of the Bradstone Tavern was transferred
from Mr. H.E. Older to Mr. N.J. Rhodes.
Folkestone
Express 27-1-1934
Inquest
“I cannot stand this pain and misery any longer” was
the last message written by Mrs. Catherine Rhodes, the wife of Mr. N.J. Rhodes,
of the Bradstone Tavern, Bradstone Road, Folkestone, and who, on Sunday
morning, was discovered lying on the floor of the kitchen with her head in the
gas oven, the taps of which were fully turned on. She was found by her husband.
Artificial respiration was tried but without result, and Dr. Billings, who was
called, was only able to pronounce that life was extinct.
Mrs. Rhodes had suffered with ulcerated legs, but for
some time she had not been troubled so much with them, until Wednesday of last
week, when she had to stop practically in bed the whole of the day, and since
then she had complained of the pain.
Mr. G.W. Haines, the Borough Coroner, conducted an
inquiry into the sad and tragic circumstances at an inquest on Tuesday
afternoon at the Folkestone Town Hall. In the course of the proceeding, he read
extracts from a letter which had been left by the deceased, who wrote that she
was disappointed that the ulcers on her legs had broken out again so soon. One
extract was “God forgive me for taking my life, but I cannot stand this pain
and misery any longer”.
Mr. Norman James Rhodes, a grocer and licensed
victualler, of 8, Bradstone Road, said he had been married twenty years. His
wife, who was 48 years of age, had suffered with her legs on and off for the
past nine years, she being troubled with varicose veins. On Wednesday of last
week she stopped in bed practically the whole of the day. She used to dress her
legs herself. She had not seen a doctor since the last outbreak. She finished
with the doctor a little over three months ago. He had not noticed her very
depressed, but she suffered great pain. She had never mentioned that her life
was unbearable or that she had contemplated suicide. On Sunday morning last she
got up at six o`clock. It was dark at the time. It occurred to him that she was
feeling better. She asked him if he wanted a cup of tea, but he said he would
have one at 8.30. He got up at 8.50 and went straight into the kitchen. The
kitchen door was closed, and as soon as he opened it he noticed a strong smell
of gas. The blinds were up and he then saw his wife lying on the floor with her
head resting inside the gas oven. Her head was resting on a cushion. He pulled
her out immediately and she was quite warm. He turned off the gas, opened the
windows and doors, and then sent for a doctor. He found a note on the kitchen
table in her handwriting. They had always had a very happy life.
Dr. B.R. Billings said the deceased was a patient of
his. She informed him that she suffered from chronic ulcerated legs, for which
he treated her. He last saw her on September 5th, when he discharged
her as cured, and he had not been called since, although he warned her that the
trouble might break out again. On Sunday morning about nine o`clock he was
called and proceeded to 8, Bradstone Road. On arrival he found the police there
and they informed him that they had applied artificial respiration. On
examination he found her to be dead, the artificial respiration having proved
ineffective. There was still a rather strong smell of gas in the kitchen. She
showed all the characteristic symptoms of gas poisoning.
The Coroner said, functioning as a jury, he thought
there was no doubt, on reading the letter that the deceased had written, that
she intended taking her own life. The deceased, he continued, poisoned herself
by taking carbon monoxide through the gas cooking stove whilst temporarily
insane.
Folkestone
Herald 27-1-1934
Inquest
“My God forgive me for taking my own life, but I cannot
stand this pain and misery any longer. I am very disappointed at my legs
breaking out again so soon. I thank you for everything you have done for me and
all your kindness. I don`t like leaving you at all. Your loving wife, Kate”.
This letter was read at the inquest on Mrs. Catherine
Rhodes at the Town hall on Tuesday afternoon by the Borough Coroner (Mr. G.W.
Haines). The Coroner sat without a jury and returned a verdict that deceased
“Poisoned herself by inhaling carbon monoxide from a gas cooking stove whilst
temporarily insane”.
Mr. Norman James Rhodes, of 8, Bradstone Road,
Folkestone, a grocer and licensed victualler, said that deceased was his wife.
They had been married for nearly 20 years. For the past nine years his wife had
been suffering from varicose veins and ulcerated legs. On Wednesday last she
stayed in bed the whole day. She used to dress her legs herself, and she had
not seen the doctor since the last outbreak about three months ago. She
suffered great pain, but she had showed no signs of suicidal tendencies. On
Sunday morning last she got up at 6 o`clock. She said “I think I shall get up.
Shall I make you a cup of tea now?” Witness had replied that he would have one
about half past eight. He got up at 8.50 and went into the kitchen across the
passage. The kitchen door was closed, and when he opened it there was a strong
smell of gas. The blind was up, and he then saw his wife lying on the floor
with her head resting inside the gas oven on a cushion. He pulled her away,
turned off the gas, opened a window, and sent for the doctor. He found a note
in her handwriting on the kitchen table, an extract from which was read by the
Coroner.
Dr. Bernard Richardson Billings said deceased had been
a patient of his. She suffered from chronic ulcerated legs, and he had first
treated her in 1929. He last saw her on September 5th, 1933,, when
he had discharged her as cured, although he warned her that the ulcers might
break out again. On Sunday morning last he was sent for about nine o`clock and
he proceeded to 8, Bradstone Road. On his arrival he found deceased lying on a
stretcher and the ambulance waiting. On examination he found she was dead. Her
pupils were dilated and fixed, and artificial respiration had been tried
without effect. There was a strong smell of gas, and deceased showed all the
characteristic signs of gas poisoning.
The Coroner gave his verdict as stated.
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