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SUICIDE INQUEST AT WAVERTREE’S OLDEST PUB

February 10, 2015 By Steven Horton

The Coffee House is probably the oldest pub in Wavertree, having been listed in the Ale House Recognizances as early as 1777. A key meeting place, it was the scene in 1883 of an inquest following a local tragedy when a man committed suicide on Dunbabin Road.

The pub was a popular day out from Liverpool in its early years, offering views across open fields and it was almost certainly what was referred to as ‘a good inn and tavern’ in Moss’s Guide to Liverpool in 1796. It became the terminus for a horse drawn tram service from Liverpool and its meeting rooms were the venue for the venue for the first Wavertree Local Board of Health in 1851. Towards the end of the 19th Century Robert Cain & Sons took it over and the interior was redesigned by Walter Thomas, whose other credits include the Philharmonic and Vines.

Its meeting rooms meant it was sometimes used for inquests and in 1883 the background to a tragedy involving a local gentleman was played out there. It followed the discovery in Dunbabin Road of the body of 22 year old Frederick Braun, the son of a local commission merchant, at 4pm on Saturday 22nd September that year   He was found in a pool of blood  by coachman Isaac Kilshaw of Lodge Lane  and next to the body was a revolver which contained six chambers, one of which had been discharged. The bullet appeared to have gone through the mouth and shattered the base of the skull. Nearby his horse was being taken under control by Alfred Heaps of Abercromby Square who had been out riding and spotted it in an alarmed state.

The police were called and the body was removed to the Coffee House, where the inquest was held the following Monday. Frederick’s brother Arthur said that he had been in bad health for some time which had seriously effected his spirits and caused the cancellation of a trip to New York. He spent a lot of time on his horse, going for rides from the family’s home at Holly Lodge in West Derby. As such his going out on that Saturday was not unusual although his groom recalled that he was in even lower spirits than he had become accustomed to.

Inspector Keithley, who had arranged removal and identification of the body, detailed the contents of an envelope that had been found in one of the pockets and had ‘my dear friend Dr Gee’ written on it. A watch and chain were inside as well as a slip of paper which read ‘God alone knows what I have suffered and I hope for yours and his forgiveness. Receive the last blessings from a penitent sinner.’ Dr Gee told how he had seen Frederick that morning and he had been in low spirits, but there was no indication that he was suicidal. Frederick ‘s depression had been caused by constant headaches, with the family solicitor saying he was not aware of any domestic matters that could have led to his feelings. The evidence led to the jury returning a verdict of suicide through temporary mental derangement.

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Filed Under: Events, Pubs Tagged With: pubs, suicide, Wavertree

About Steven Horton

I am a local history author and tour guide based the Liverpool region, specialising in bespoke tours tailor made to suit the individual or group. Whether it be football, Victorian murders or Liverpool sites connected to the US Civil War, I can arrange something that will suit the customers needs, not go where I want to take people.
I have published seventeen books, all of which are available via the shop page. As well as writing for the Liverpool Echo and Times, I have made guest appearances on local radio and TV. Local history is a real passion of mine, if you enjoy my site please feel free to share through facebook, twitter etc and maybe leave a comment.

Comments

  1. Ley says

    June 28, 2016 at 1:22 am

    Hi Steven
    Just wondered if in your research you had come across a suicide in the grounds of Holy Trinity church around 1891?
    Many thanks
    Ley

    • Steven Horton says

      June 28, 2016 at 9:05 pm

      Hi I’ve had a look on British Newspaper Archive searching for Holy Trinity suicide and Wavertree suicide for the 1880s and 1890s and can’t find anything sorry.

  2. John says

    April 3, 2018 at 11:17 pm

    Hi Steve, Im looking for information about a great grandfather who comitted suicide in Brasenose road bootle…..Beginning of last century or maybe slightly earlier…Can you help me in where I should go………Regards John

  3. Mrs C C Davies says

    December 31, 2018 at 11:45 pm

    Hi Steven, any idea the previous names of the Navigator pub in Old Swan?

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Steven Horton has been a freelance writer for 20+ years. He is the author of 7 books has written for the Times, Liverpool Echo, numerous fanzines and websites, and also appeared on Radio Merseyside/City Talk, ITV News and Sky Sports News. ..read more

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