Apparent Suicide - (Success!)

Post by **Pandabean** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:17 am

I was wondering if anyone would know where to find info on an apparent suicide in 1923.

I am currently in contact with a local library for newspaper clippings but I have no idea where else I could look.

The Certificate is:
http://www.talkingscot.com/gallery/disp ... p?pos=-738

Daniel Rutherford, died 18/5/1923. The Stables, Wester Dullatur Cottage, Cumbernauld, Dumbarton.

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:37 am

hi Pandabean
There is an entry in the left margin which suggests there is a RCE for this event - maybe get in touch with GROS for more details. As far as I'm aware, they should be able to send you a copy. It may contain more information.

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **Pandabean** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:03 pm

Is it possible to get a copy of a RCE without paying extra?

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:37 pm

Hi Pandabean
I'm sorry I don't know the answer to that one. Of the ones I've seen, one was sent to me along with a copy of a death which had been impossible to read due to the quality of the image, so in that situation, it was sent with no charge. The others I have seen were on visits to NRH, so again, not the same situation as you find yourself in.

best wishes
Lesley

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 5:15 pm

Pandabean wrote:I was wondering if anyone would know where to find info on an apparent suicide in 1923.

I am currently in contact with a local library for newspaper clippings but I have no idea where else I could look.

The Certificate is:
http://www.talkingscot.com/gallery/disp ... p?pos=-738

Daniel Rutherford, died 18/5/1923. The Stables, Wester Dullatur Cottage, Cumbernauld, Dumbarton.

Hello Pandabean,

Can't add much more about cost than info Lesley has given but I can tell you when I looked at my Gran's RCE it had exactly the same wording as on the death entry. In her case : Where -found in bed, Cause- carbon monoxide poisoning.

By the way - a small point but very relevent I think - in the column where and when died it read The Stable and not The Stables.

I should be going to Park Circus in October sometome and will have a look if nobody else does first.

Kind regards,
Annette M

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 7:13 pm

Such RCE entries are based on the situation that any violent, sudden or unexpected death, - in the case of the last two cases especially if there hadn't been a regular medical attendant in the run up to the date of the death, - had to be referred to the Procurator Fiscal's office (think "District Attorney" !!).

Most often, all that will be included in the RCE entry will be a simple confirmation of the place, time, and cause of death, as confirmed by the doctor engaged by the Procurator Fiscal's office, but there will sometimes be a wee bit more information.

In the case of a violent death that led to a criiminal prosecution, or an industrial death that led to an Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) there may also be a cross reference to the Sheriff Court FAI involved, or the High Court of Justiciary process for a murder.

For FAIs, see the guidance at http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4308.

For High Court of Justiciary (the highest criminal court in Scotland) records, see http://www.nas.gov.uk/guides/highCourt.asp at the National Archives of Scotland (NAS).

Especially for the earlier years of statutory registration, starting in 1855, and continuing for some decades, most especially in the smaller rural registration districts, it is quite often the case that a sudden death was not always referred to the PF, since it was known to the registrar and others that the deceased person's death was in no way suspicious, despite the lack of regular medical attention in the days/weeks prior to the date of death.

As regards suicides, Scottish death register entries are most often blunt and uncompromising as regards the cause of death.

David

David W Webster FSA Scot

© David W Webster August 2006
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Post by **Pandabean** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:35 pm

I have had a little success from this and some unsuccess.

First I havent been able to get hold of the RCE yet.

The good news is I did a search on google for the farm mentioned and found there were still stables there. I decided anyway to use the contact form and ask them about this suicide. I was not expecting much from it. But yesterday I recieved the following email:

------
hi andrew, i have heard this story before about your relation. the farm is still owned by the same family who can give you some info regarding this. the farmer/ owner has asked for your e-mail address so that he can contact you. i have passed this on to him.
-----

So hopefully I will hear back from them.

Post by **emanday** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:31 pm

I think that is a great result. With the same family still owning the farm, you might find out a lot of really interesting family history.

Good luck with that.

Post by **Pandabean** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 9:13 am

Ok I got it slightly wrong in the excitement.

The family that own the farm at present. Their ancestors owned the farm when Daniel died and he was just a farm servant. They still know the story though.

Anyways it is still a result.

Post by **emanday** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 10:13 am

Too true it's still a result.

Let's face it; the information you might get from them isn't likely to be "edited" the way actual family might have done. Some people still avoid revealing even ancient family secrets.

TalkingScot.com

Apparent Suicide - (Success!)

Apparent Suicide - (Success!)

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