Witnesses gave evidence; The Rev. Smith explained that Peter had never
appeared to himself or his supervisor as in any way depressed, and when asked
by the Coroner; ‘He never intimated to you that he felt himself a failure?’
Smith replied, ‘No, never.’ Mr. Oddy explained that Peter had never made
any remark suggesting he was tired of life. Medical evidence offered by Dr.
Youngman suggested that death had occurred three to four hours before he
was called. The scene of death was described by Ms Peters and P. C. Palmer.
What evidence remains suggests that Robert had little input to the proceedings but he was called to confirm the body as that of his son, and that the
letter was in Peter’s handwriting. Robert also explained that Peter had never
given reason to consider he had contemplated anything against his life and he
could find no reason why he should do so, unless he had been overworking,
which may have ‘affected his brain’. At the end of the inquest Mr. Wallis
returned a verdict of ‘Suicide by coal gas poisoning during temporary
insanity’. He summed up as follows;
It appears that the deceased had been unduly worried as to the results of his
papers. He apparently took it to heart. As indicated in the letter which I read,
he thought he was a failure. From the evidence we have had I think he was
altogether wrong. He had been of a very cheerful disposition, as the evidence
stated by various witnesses shows. As so often happens, you do a paper and
you think that you have not done at all well and he got depressed on that
account. It is to be regretted that he apparently purchased that tubing with
the full intention of committing this act … there was no doubt that he was in a
very difficult state of mind but had he thought a little, he would not have
committed the act which has brought us all here today.
The Coroner expressed his sympathy with Robert; Inspector Bellamy associated himself with this, as did Mr. Metters of the Gas Company. The inquest
was then closed.
32
Peter’s body was returned home and on Tuesday 29 May his remains were
buried in consecrated ground at Harrow cemetery, the only interment that
day. The morning was quiet and warm with gentle winds, cloudy, but
occasionally the sun broke through. The service was conducted by the Rev.
Henry Wolferstan Beck, Vicar of the family’s Parish Church of St. John’s
Greenhill. In time, the family arranged a full traditional headstone and kerb
for Peter’s grave with the simple inscription;
In Loving Memory of Peter Walter Le Rossignol, died May 26th 1934, aged
20.
33
388
D. Sheppard
appeared to himself or his supervisor as in any way depressed, and when asked
by the Coroner; ‘He never intimated to you that he felt himself a failure?’
Smith replied, ‘No, never.’ Mr. Oddy explained that Peter had never made
any remark suggesting he was tired of life. Medical evidence offered by Dr.
Youngman suggested that death had occurred three to four hours before he
was called. The scene of death was described by Ms Peters and P. C. Palmer.
What evidence remains suggests that Robert had little input to the proceedings but he was called to confirm the body as that of his son, and that the
letter was in Peter’s handwriting. Robert also explained that Peter had never
given reason to consider he had contemplated anything against his life and he
could find no reason why he should do so, unless he had been overworking,
which may have ‘affected his brain’. At the end of the inquest Mr. Wallis
returned a verdict of ‘Suicide by coal gas poisoning during temporary
insanity’. He summed up as follows;
It appears that the deceased had been unduly worried as to the results of his
papers. He apparently took it to heart. As indicated in the letter which I read,
he thought he was a failure. From the evidence we have had I think he was
altogether wrong. He had been of a very cheerful disposition, as the evidence
stated by various witnesses shows. As so often happens, you do a paper and
you think that you have not done at all well and he got depressed on that
account. It is to be regretted that he apparently purchased that tubing with
the full intention of committing this act … there was no doubt that he was in a
very difficult state of mind but had he thought a little, he would not have
committed the act which has brought us all here today.
The Coroner expressed his sympathy with Robert; Inspector Bellamy associated himself with this, as did Mr. Metters of the Gas Company. The inquest
was then closed.
32
Peter’s body was returned home and on Tuesday 29 May his remains were
buried in consecrated ground at Harrow cemetery, the only interment that
day. The morning was quiet and warm with gentle winds, cloudy, but
occasionally the sun broke through. The service was conducted by the Rev.
Henry Wolferstan Beck, Vicar of the family’s Parish Church of St. John’s
Greenhill. In time, the family arranged a full traditional headstone and kerb
for Peter’s grave with the simple inscription;
In Loving Memory of Peter Walter Le Rossignol, died May 26th 1934, aged
20.
33
388
D. Sheppard