QSR1878/1/5/5/a

Depositions and examination - Arthur Champkin, charged with cutting and wounding himself with a knife with intent to kill and murder himself at Dunstable on 24 October 1877

31 October 1877

From: 1877 To: 1878

Benjamin George – on Wednesday 24 October Champkin was in his custody remanded on 2 charges of larceny. About 2pm he visited him in the cell and gave him some dinner. Champkin was quite well then and appeared perfectly sane. About 2.40pm he heard a groan and went to Champkin who was “weltering” in blood with his throat cut. He sent for a doctor and Mr Beart arrived in about 5 minutes. He found a case knife underneath Champkin’s bed. James Alfred Beart – he is a surgeon assisting Dr Hicks. He found Champkin with his throat cut and fainting from loss of blood. Champkin appeared perfectly rational and knew him although he did not recognize Champkin. Only the superficial vessels of the throat were wounded. He bandaged him up and left him. He should say the wound was made by a sharp instrument such as the knife produced. Supt. George found it while he was there, covered with fresh blood. Had the knife been pointed instead of rounded he believes the left caratoid artery would have been cut which would have probably caused death. Champkin begged him to save him. Arthur Champkin – “I don’t know what I was doing”.

item

Champkin, Arthur,
George, Benjamin,
Beart, James Alfred,
Hicks

DUNSTABLE, suicide, surgeon