STRANGE CASE OF RELIGIOUS MONOMANIA.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1144, 11 September 1882, Page 3

STRANGE CASE OF RELIGIOUS MONOMANIA.

A curious case of suicide from religious monomania has been investigated by a London coroners’ jury. 'l’he deceased was named Sarah Harriet Golding, and was only 20 years of age. Her body was found in the moat at Finchley. At the inquest, Albert Golding, of 10, Ephinstone street, Highbury, deposed that the deceased was his sister. Latterly she had been in a very low, desponding state, owing he believed, to her connection with a religious sectcalled “Bible Christians. She once went out with the intention of drowning herself, owing to the belief that she had not been as religiously good as she might have been. Deceased had been in the employment of Mr Maxted at Bromley. Deceased had lived with witness for some time at Highbury, and during that time she spent nearly her whole leisure in the room in Holloway Hoad and also spent her whole money. Mr A. Maxted, of 2, Tweedie Road, Bromley, Kent, deposed that the deceased had been in a very listless and despondent state from November last. She left at five on Wednesday afternoon, and left a letter saying she was driven to commit suicide. The following letter wasproducedin the handwriting of the deceased:—“Please Jo not mourn for me. I have been most unhappy. I think that my failing strength has driven me to this. My dying love to all. It is not death to die to leave this weary road, amidst the brotherhood on high to live at home with God. I have died without a stain on my moral character, but my spiritual one has not been as perfect as it might have been. I wish you all a long and affectionate farewell I ask my dear brother Albert to kiss my dear|mother for me 1 have no doubt I shall be thought cruel, but all of you think it for the best. Good-bye, and many thanks for v°ur very great kindness to me. Albert, my dear brother, will you trust in Jesus ?” A verdict of suicide whilst of unsound mind was recorded at the inquest.