Arthur Longman – a victim in the dark

A fallen headstone, a neglected grave and a tragic story.

Arthur Longman’s family recognised the reoccurrence of his depression and anxiety. Arthur himself was obviously frightened and at the inquest it was revealed he had asked for help:

‘Deceased at one time expressed a wish to go to an asylum to be taken care of, but Dr Maclean considered that there was no necessity for him going there.’

Could there ever have been more damaging medical advice?

Arthur was born in 1850 in the village of Penselwood, Somerset, the son of Isaiah and Jane Longman. He married Rosina Flood in the March quarter of 1875.

At the time of the 1881 census Rosina was single handily running the family’s drapery business in Faringdon Street and caring for her five year old son. The census enumerator has written on the census form – Husband in Asylum. Arthur is recorded on that census as a patient in the Wilts County Lunatic Asylum, Devizes.

In 1891, the year before his death, Arthur states his occupation as Draper and Auctioneer. Rosina works as Draper & Milliner & Dress [maker]. Their eldest son Arthur 15, works as a draper & clothier’s assistant. There are a further four children, Charles 9, Rosina 7, Emme 3 and one year old Frederick. The couple have a heavy workload. But despite the family’s concerns little was done to help Arthur.

Sad Death of a Swindon Tradesman – On Monday morning Mr Arthur Longman, draper, of Faringdon street, New Swindon, committed suicide in his own house under painful circumstances. It is supposed that he rose about 4 a.m. according to his custom, and at 6.30 a.m., on his wife going downstairs she was horrified to find the body of her husband. Dr. Howse was at once summoned, but found life extinct. – An inquest was held at the Cricketer’s Arms, New Swindon, on Tuesday morning, by Mr. Coroner Browne and a jury, of whom Mr A. Adams was foreman, and the following evidence taken:-

Sidney Longman, a guard on the Midland and South Western Junction Railway, said deceased, who was 42 years of age, was his brother, and had been in business in Swindon about 20 years. He was sent to Devizes asylum about ten years ago owing to an attack of suicidal mania, being there about six months, when he came out practically cured. Deceased worried a great deal lately about a business which he had put his father-in-law into. He also worried a great deal about his new business at Gorse Hill, but witness thought there was no necessity for it. When he saw deceased last he told him that he had had a letter from his father asking him if he was any better in health, and told witness he wished he could say that he was.

Arthur Longman, deceased’s son, said he assisted his father in managing the business. He had noticed a change in his habits lately and he seemed depressed in spirits. Witness went out with him as usual on Sunday, and deceased went to church in the evening. It was nothing unusual for deceased to get up in the morning before any one else. On Monday morning witness got up about 6.30 and found deceased lying across the table in the kitchen. The room was not deranged in any way with the exception that the lamp on the table was knocked over. Deceased at one time expressed a wish to go to an asylum to be taken care of, but Dr Maclean considered that there was no necessity for him going there.- Dr Howse said he was called to deceased about 7 o’clock on Monday morning. He was quite dead, death being the result of haemorrhage caused by the wound in the throat.- The jury returned a verdict of “Suicide whilst of unsound mind,” and gave their fees to the Swindon Victoria Hospital.

Extracts from the Swindon Advertiser, Saturday November 5, 1892.

What happened to the family in the aftermath of Arthur’s violent death? Well, Rosina stayed in Faringdon Street and carried on with the business with the help of her son Arthur. She died on December 24, 1930 at 32 Faringdon Street and was buried with her husband and their young son Frederick Sidney who died in 1897 aged 7 years 10 months in grave plot A783 . The last person buried in this large plot was daughter Rose Emily Longman who died in 1953. Two young sons who died in infancy are also remembered on the headstone.

The inscription includes a verse from the hymn Hark! Hark, My Soul by Frederick W. Faber.

Darker than night, life’s shadows close around us

And, like benighted men, we miss our mark

God hides Himself, and grace has scarcely found us

Ere death finds out, his victim in the dark.