John Chubb

Dorset-born jockey John Chubb committed suicide in Jersey on Friday, 18 August 1893.

He had for some years been in the employment of Colonel Philip Robin and, at the time of his death, lived in a cottage at the rear of Queen's Road with his three children (two boys and a girl).

Having arrived home from work at 5.30 the previous evening, he had tea as usual and appeared in his customary good health.

He went to bed at 9.30, shortly afterwards calling for his daughter, Edith (aged 15), to bring him a glass of water. He also asked her to leave the window open.

She then returned downstairs to join her brother, John Carey Chubb Jr. (aged 14).

Minutes later, they heard a bottle fall into the yard and smash. Listening at the foot of the stairs, they heard their father snoring unusually loudly, and went up to investigate. They were unable to wake him, and John Jr ran next door to where Mr Chris Tucker lived. Tucker came round straight away, only to find John Chubb Sr dead in his bed. Dr Dunlop was sent for; he confirmed life to be extinct. Chubb had apparently undressed himself, tipped a bottle of poison into a glass, drunk it, threw the empty bottle out of the window, and got back into bed to calmly await death.

Mr Tucker said he was at Mr Chubb's from 6 to 9.30 the previous evening (Thursday). He said that Chubb seemed to be in his usual good spirits and was perfectly sober. He (Chubb) spoke of his work and of the races of the day before where he'd (unsuccessfully) ridden. He mentioned this fact several times - that his luck was out - and it seemed to Mr Tucker that it was preying on his mind. He then shook hands with John Chubb at 9.30 and bade him goodnight.

Mr Tucker then stated that he had not been home more than five minutes (on the night in question) when John Jr knocked on the door asking him to come quickly as he thought his father had 'done something'.

Two days earlier, Chubb had ridden for Colonel Robin, after which Robin had remonstrated with him as to his conduct and had threatened to discharge him.

John Chubb was 38 years old: his wife had left him some months previously and he had begun drinking.