Knighton Cemetery

Wellington Journal - 14th September 1895

SUICIDE OF A LAD AT KNIGHTON: AN EXTRAORDINARY LETTER.

Mr. William Wakelin, coroner, held an inquest at Knighton on Tuesday evening touching on the death of a lad named John Minton, alias John Lewis Jones, who was found hanging from a beam at his home on the previous day.

            Thomas Jenkins said the deceased was 16 years of age, and had lived with witness since he was six months old. He did not seem in any trouble on the day be died.

            Ann Williams stated that Minton gave her the letter, marked " A," to give to Owen Williams. It was closed and addressed to "Owen, from Jack.-"

            The Coroner here read the letter, which is given as written :

Dear Owen

            Made up my mind to die by your side but before I died your lord will pay you for your day. Fare thee well for I must leave you. Do not let the parting grieve thee.

​

Dig my grave both wide and deep.

Put Tombstones at my head and feet.

And on my breast carve a turtle dove

To signify I died in love of thee.

So good bye, God bless you and help you and your mates.

            You promised me you would get that belt from Ginger and for my sake do get it and keep them all in memory of me when I have gone for you have caused me to do what I have done, but I wish you to follow next to my coffin. If you will then I shall be happy but you will be happy when I am gone to a better place than this. We shall meet again soon I hope up in heaven above. You broke my heart Owen and put me to do this awful thing which I have done but I will forgive you with all my heart, and here is a parting kiss x x for you from your broken heart ever true mate,

J. Lewis Jones

​

             Witness said deceased seemed cheerful, and she did not notice anything strange in his manner.

            Margaret Jones said she was present when deceased's mother and a woman named Morgan returned home about two on Monday afternoon. His mother could not get into the house, and called to her son to open the door. She then forced it open, and found deceased hanging by the neck by a cord suspended from a beam in the ceiling. Witness touched him, but he was dead and cold. His feet were about 6 in. from the ground. Witness was not aware of any love trouble or any other cause why he should take his life.

            Police-constable Charles Rogers proved cutting the body down, and finding a letter marked " B," addressed by the lad to his mother, lying open on the table. A chair had been kicked over on the floor.

            Owen Williams, the lad referred to in the above letter, said he was 15 years of age, and a companion of the deceased. Witness had no quarrel with him, and he could not account for his doing the awful deed or his alluding to witness in the letter. "Ginger" was another lad living in the town. "Ginger" and deceased had fought some time ago. He knew nothing of any love affairs of the deceased lad's, and never saw him walk out with a girl.

            The Coroner having summed up, the jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while temporarily insane,," and added a rider acquitting the lad Owen Williams from all blame.

The verse in the letter to Owen Is taken from the song "There Is a Tavern in the Town", which first appeared in 1883.