South Yorkshire Times, December 15, 1951

Kilnhurst Suicide

Chauffeur Worried Over Health and Accident

A small calibre revolver was produced as police evidence at Friday’s Mexborough inquest on George Peaker (50), N.C.B. chauffeur, of 73, Glasshouse Road, Kilnhurst, who died from a gunshot wound the previous Tuesday in 3Iexborough Montagu Hospital.

Two Operations

The Doncaster District Coroner (Mr. W. H. Carlisle) recorded a verdict of “Suicide while the balance of his mind was disturbed.”

The widow, Mrs. Alice Peaker, told the Coroner of chest and nasal trouble from which her husband had suffered for the past six years. He had undergone two operations she said, and early this year was confined to bed for nine weeks with an attack of pneumonia.

On November 14th, Mrs. Peaker continued, her husband was involved in a slight accident while driving near Elsecar, and subsequently was notified of a pending prosecution arising out of this accident.

He worried about this, and on December 1st when visited by the Doctor, he said he “felt like jumping in the canal” and asked the Doctor to send him to a mental home. He was getting little sleep and was very depressed Mrs. Peaker went on.

Revolver Near Feet

About 7 a.m. on December 3rd, Mrs. Peaker took a drink up to her husband, who told her he was going to get up. Thirty minutes later, he heard a bang on the floor in the bedroom. A revolver was on the floor near his feet. He was taken to Mexborough Montagu Hospital 1 where he died.

In reply to the Coroner, Mrs. Peaker said her husband had had the revolver 12 years and kept it in a tin trunk in the bathroom along with other private belongings.

P.c. W. J. Robinson, of Swinton West Riding Police, exhibited the revolver together with a cartridge ease containing seven rounds, found in Peaker’s bedroom. He said the revolver was an ancient, small calibre model, and had one exploded round in the chamber.

Dr. Henry Lederer, pathologist at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, said the cause of death was obstruction of the brain by a gunshot wound. The wound in the dead man’s temple was consistent with the size of ammunition exhibited by Police witness.