Have you opened a Pandora's box?

[coombs]

Oh not forgetting my 2xgreat grandfather who took his own life in 1894. And my uncle also committed suicide.

[nigelp]

A few years ago I was searching through the calendars of wills at First Avenue House for a will for one of my ancestors when by chance I came across a reference to a will for one of my other ancestors. Intrigued, I ordered the will and grant of probate and was very surprised to read that he died in 1935 at an east London railway station. Now very intrigued, I rushed up to the Family Records Centre (those were the days!) to order his death certificate.

A few days later the death certificate arrived. I was totally shocked when I read it. It indicated that he had died of multiple injuries from being run over by a train with there being an open verdict at Northern District County of London Inquest. What had happened?

A few weeks later I visited the newspaper library in Colindale and after some searching found two articles in a local paper concerning the event and Coroner's inquest (which sat with a jury). I was shocked at how graphic a story was given, describing a decapitated body being found on the railway line and a few theories behind the death. I was also surprised that the report on the inquest seemed to consider only whether it was or was not suicide. Why was murder or manslaughter not considered? The jury returned an open verdict.

If only I could find out what really happened. I guess I shall never know. 

[coombs]

My great grandmother died in 1945 just months after the war ended. She died of cirrhosis of the liver and a urinary problem in the local hospital on her 50th birthday as well. My nan had said this 10 years ago before I began researching my ancestors. Her husband died in April 1942 of a stroke. I think she must have been distraught and started drinking as cirrhosis of the liver is often caused by drinking or could there be other causes?

[Erato]

hepatitis

[coombs]

hepatitis

The cert says "no PM" and I think she had suppression of urine.

So hepatitis can cause cirrhosis of the liver? My dad, who hates any skeletons in his tree said "she must have drunk a lot" but she may not have.

[nigelp]

There are several possible causes. See for example:

http://www.medicinenet.com/cirrhosis/page3.htm

Nigel

[Annie65115]

Anything that causes inflammation of the liver can ultimately lead to hepatitis. So she may have been a drinker but she may well not have been.

[coombs]

I just re checked her death cert and she had an urinary infection not suppression of urine. So hepatitis is one the the causes of liver cirrhosis.

[coombs]

I think it is 50/50 as to whether she was a drinker or not as my nan is now dead and the other people that knew my great grandmother are also dead now so that is probably a question that I cannot answer.