In February 1878, John Lodge lived with his sister, Isabella
in Gateshead, John was a brick maker and Isabella was his housekeeper. For
reasons unknown John had been depressed for a while and decided a way out of
his depression would be to commit suicide. He also decided he would kill his
sister. So while Isabella was asleep in bed he tried to kill her with a razor.
John managed to slash her throat, hands and face but Isabella somehow escaped.
At around 1am while walking his regular beat a policeman came across a woman
wearing only a petticoat lying in the street. When the policeman got closer he
could see she was covered in blood from the slash across her throat. When the
policeman recognized Isabella he tried to ask what had happened but Isabella
was barley conscious, so the policeman picked her up and carried her home. As
he carried her into the house the policeman almost fell over another blood
covered body lying on the kitchen floor. John was dead and the razor was lying
on the kitchen table. It was doubtful that Isabella would survive or recover
from her injuries. The verdict on John at the Coroner's Court was he had
committed suicide whilst of unsound mind.
