William McCafferty
At an inquest held at Northallerton on Monday, 13 August 1934, Dr, Wood, deputy coroner for the northern district of the North Riding, heard how a young, out-of-work jockey, William McCafferty, aged 21, poisoned himself by taking arsenic in the Northallerton Poor Law Institution.
At an inquest held at Northallerton on Monday, 13 August 1934, Dr, Wood, deputy coroner for the northern district of the North Riding, heard how a young, out-of-work jockey, William McCafferty, aged 21, poisoned himself by taking arsenic in the Northallerton Poor Law Institution.
William, of Burnbank, Lanarkshire, had been employed as a jockey by Mr Bellerby of Thirsk since the previous February.
William, of Burnbank, Lanarkshire, had been employed as a jockey by Mr Bellerby of Thirsk since the previous February.
Eva Bentley, wife of the landlord of the Hambleton Hotel in Thirsk, said she had known McCafferty since March. He had lodged at the hotel since his employment with Mr Bellerby came to an end three weeks earlier. Mr Bellerby told the court that he had recently reduced his staff and that was why McCafferty had to leave.
Eva Bentley, wife of the landlord of the Hambleton Hotel in Thirsk, said she had known McCafferty since March. He had lodged at the hotel since his employment with Mr Bellerby came to an end three weeks earlier. Mr Bellerby told the court that he had recently reduced his staff and that was why McCafferty had to leave.
Benjamin Foggitt, whose chemist shop stood in the Market Place, Thirsk, said McCafferty came to his shop that Saturday and asked for four grammes of arsenic - it was, said McCafferty, to kill rats. He said the poison was for Mr Bentley, of the Hambleton Hotel.
Benjamin Foggitt, whose chemist shop stood in the Market Place, Thirsk, said McCafferty came to his shop that Saturday and asked for four grammes of arsenic - it was, said McCafferty, to kill rats. He said the poison was for Mr Bentley, of the Hambleton Hotel.
George William Lunn, who kept a lodging-house in Thirsk, said that William came to his house on Saturday night, looking for lodgings. When he tried to call him the next morning, he found him to be extremely ill. William was taken to the Northallerton Poor Law Institution, where he died.
George William Lunn, who kept a lodging-house in Thirsk, said that William came to his house on Saturday night, looking for lodgings. When he tried to call him the next morning, he found him to be extremely ill. William was taken to the Northallerton Poor Law Institution, where he died.
Following a post-mortem, it was established that William died from acute arsenic poisoning.
Following a post-mortem, it was established that William died from acute arsenic poisoning.
The jury returned a verdict that McCafferty died from arsenic poisoning, self-administered, 'while not of sound mind owing to acute depression through losing his employment.'
The jury returned a verdict that McCafferty died from arsenic poisoning, self-administered, 'while not of sound mind owing to acute depression through losing his employment.'