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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Yorkshire (West Riding) => Topic started by: TheIrishDescendant on Sunday 07 November 21 12:39 GMT (UK)
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Good afternoon everybody.
This post is a little sensitive for me to write but I do need help with this and it is something I need to know.
In 1964 my grandfather committed suicide with a gun to his head on his death certificate it says after being questioned by police. I have checked the local archive for newspaper but it has drawn a blank. I am looking to find out why ? What he did ?. Who do I contact for investigation reports ?
Would there be any police reports for him ?. I have contacted the local police but they refuse to realise anything to me.
Thank you in advance
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As you have already found, records at this period can be difficult to access. You would probably have to wait 75 years for the coroner’s report to be released.
By far the best way to go will be the newspapers. The inquest is bound to have been reported, probably in the Yorkshire Post, and/or a more local paper. Relatively few newspapers from this period are online.
As you will know the area and the exact inquest date (from the death certificate), it shouldn’t be too hard to search the newspapers manually, either at the British Library in London or at Boston Spa. If you can’t get there, you may need to engage a researcher to help you.
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Does his death certificate indicate if an inquest was held? If so, also search for the event using the coroner's name in newspaper reports (if any exist).
As Bookbox has mentioned, all coroner inquest records are closed to the public for 75 years, although next of kin can apply for access -- apparently. ???
NOTE: There's a 1921 ruling advising that more recent records need only be kept for 15 years.
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Does his death certificate indicate if an inquest was held?
Under the circumstances, it would be astonishing if there was no inquest.
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Just offering this link for some general guidance. Bear in mind it relates to West Yorkshire.
https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CL
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I have checked the local archive for newspaper but it has drawn a blank.
If you're checking online, be aware that BNA's only Yorkshire newspaper coverage for 1960-1969 is the "Halifax Evening Courier".
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Have you done a basic search by entering grandfathers name into search box?
Brian
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hi all and thank you for your replies. i have tried entering my grandfathers name yes and to no avail unfortunately. checking his death certificate i have uploaded a screen shot of the coroner and yes there was a inquest does this mean what happened will have been discussed ? i am reading the coroner as a Mr S.H.B GILL a news paper from the Yorkshire post confirmed this for me.
looking into the newspapers online it just says a man killed himself etc may like someone has mention there is papers with more detail not online this is something i will after check.
i also found the files held by the Wakefield Archive https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/N13538169
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yes there was a inquest does this mean what happened will have been discussed ?
As summarised in the link provided earlier: https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CL
"The inquest files contain the evidence concerning the case presented to the coroner, the verdict returned and details of the inquest. These consist mainly of shorthand notes of the evidence given and lists of names and addresses of jury members. The documents presented as evidence include such items as Police Sudden Death reports and subsequent statements, autopsy and medical reports, forensic evidence, photographs of the scene of death and the deceased, personal effects of the deceased (including suicide notes) and correspondence addressed to the coroner concerning the case".
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Hi all
So this morning I got a reply and it doesn't look I am going 5o get anything from them as they may not hold anything seems another dead end excuse the pun.
Thank you for your email.
We do hold County Coroners records [our reference CW], but the latest we hold are from 1962 so I am afraid we would not hold anything from a 1964 death unless the records came under either the Leeds or Wakefield coroners.
You could contact the current coroner’s office for them to check their indexes, but as it states it was a West Riding coroners case I am afraid I do not think it is likely that they will have any reference to the case Role of the Coroner - Wakefield Council
The best source of information, if you have not already tried is usually local newspapers and these can be looked at in the local studies libraries.
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Good afternoon everybody.
This post is a little sensitive for me to write but I do need help with this and it is something I need to know.
In 1964 my grandfather committed suicide with a gun to his head on his death certificate it says after being questioned by police. I have checked the local archive for newspaper but it has drawn a blank. I am looking to find out why ? What he did ?. Who do I contact for investigation reports ?
Would there be any police reports for him ?. I have contacted the local police but they refuse to realise anything to me.
Thank you in advance
Hi,
As Bookbox said, some doc's under 75 years old or in some cases under 100 years are hard to get access to some doc's in archives and if no charges were brought to your granddad there maybe little be on public record.
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So I contacted my local archive to access there police record I was told to contact South Yorkshire police and get permission to look see if there is anything on him or mention why he was questioned. They out right refused to open them to me.