Suicide In The Family

[david macdiarmid]

Hi Again to the Talking Scot Forum,This shocking news was sent to me by a Cousin of my Wife's.I was sent a Death Cert for a Peter Kelly,found dead 1901 December 7th.Cause of Death "incised wound of throat opening off jugular vein"(suicidal).Peter would have been my Wife's Great Grandfathers Brother,but was indeed my Wifes Cousin's Gr Grandad.Peter was a coillery labourer and lived in Blantyre.For reasons unknown to us he chose to end his life near Whitehill Road,Hamilton.The Certificate is very hard to read but it looks to me like "in Bellshaw Burn".I really can't read that part.The interesting thing is ,there is a corrected entry for Dec 1901 Vol8 page 209.I wonder if The Forum can help with details on how i can access this corrected entry,i have only ever had one before and because it was ages ago i can't remember what i did.I also have to assume that this would have been in the Press,What papers would i be looking for do you think,Local or National or both?It would be, for the Kelly family,to have knowledge of this incedent,whereas over the years it has probably been swept under the carpet,Thanks Again,David

[Jake Drummond]

I'd check your local Library for copies, either paper or on microfische, of the newspapers of that time for your area. There will probably be more than one for that area, so read them all for the publication date after the event. Also take note of any forthcoming inquest dates, as that's when the full story will appear.
I had a similar suicide among a distant relative and found a pretty gory press cutting, but which gave an indication of exactly why the 'victim' took his life.
The RCE will be available if you get the death certificate through Scotland's People, and I think it will give the option to order online with the image.

[david macdiarmid]

Hi Jake,thanks for that.I live in Fife so i don't have a clue where to start looking for the newspapers in Hamilton,Blantyre etc.My hopes are with the RCE,although i must confess looking back my only other RCE drew a blank,David

[Ina]

David,

When you click on "view" on scotlandspeople, before you open the record, directly above you will see in bright red "view RCE 2 credits" when you click on that it will come up with the RCE. The RCE for your fellow gives accurate details of his death and where it happened. Worth the 2 extra credits. I've had some of mine which virtually gave no more info than the death record itself.

Ina

[Jake Drummond]

I'd ask at Kirkcaldy Library David, and I'm sure they'll search out the newspaper names and maybe source a Library in Hamilton to visit. Worth a day out to do the search as it's not too far away. Kirkcaldy might be able to have Hanilton do a search if you supply the dates, as they are quite obliging.

[trish1]

I've recently viewed a couple of RCEs related to accidental deaths (one rather ghastly). The RCE had a more detail than the certificate in one case, but no more in the other. They were both reports from the Procurator Fiscal. You can access the RCE for 2 credits - as mentioned by Ina - but I think you have to view the certificate first - which as you already have it - you may not wish to do. It is explained here

http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/conte ... r=551&1314

You could email a query as to whether an RCE can be viewed without first viewing the certificate - or someone here may have more info on same

Trish

[Currie]

Hello David,

Unfortunately the death was a bit late to be included in the 19C British Library newspapers.

Searching The Scotsman Archive in December 1901 for Peter Kelly as an ‘exact phrase’ there appears to be something on the 11th. Searching for ‘all words’ Peter Kelly throat suicide Hamilton there appears to be something on the 28th. Searching for ‘all words’ suicide throat brings up entries on 2nd, 11th, 17th, 21st & 28th. http://archive.scotsman.com/search.cfm? ... tyType=all

Was the suicide reported in the Scotsman? Possibly, but because the search results aren’t particularly helpful you can’t be sure until you pay for access and have a look. There may be nothing there at all.

If the suicide made it into the Scotsman there must be a chance it was reported in Greenock. There may be something in the Watt Library BMD Index (under Family History) and/or the Newspaper Index (under Local History). I can’t see him in the BMD Index and I can’t open the Newspaper Index document that may have suicide as a category. http://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/community- ... y-history/

Hope that helps,
Alan

[rosieno1]

The current local paper would be the Hamilton Advertiser. A quick google on 'Hamilton Advertiser archive' brings up a website which looks to go back to 1900.

Give it a try!
Sorry this is rushed - need to leave for work in 3mins. and running lante!

Janex

[Rockford]

Hi David,

The article Alan found from 11 December 1901 in the Scotsman is related to the death of Peter Kelly.

It describes that his body was found by 'a young man' lying in the water of the Wellshaw Burn, between Burnbank Road and the Strathaven Junction of the Caledonian Railway. He is described as being Peter Kelly of 55 Dixon's Rows, Blantyre and the article states that he had been in failing health for some time. It ends by saying that he had recently come out of the Infirmary and had been 'acting strange' since then. It notes that there was a wound on his throat that appeared to have been self inflicted.

I haven't looked at the others, but I hope that the information is helpful.

Best wishes

Brian

[david macdiarmid]

Hi Jake,Ina,Trish,Alan,Janex and Brian.You have all been most helpful,the Scotsman seems to have all the gory details,which i suppose tells a story that the Death Cert doesn't.The next time i am in Kirkcaldy I will visit the library to see if i can find any more info.I tried to find archives for the Hamilton paper but drew a blank.The Death Cert i have for Peter was sent by my Wifes Cousin so i will have to get it on SP to open the RCE.Alan and Brian a big thanks,you never know if the information is out there or where it is,Thank you all again .I will e-mail the Family and let everyone know,David =D>