Suicide and Insanity

In some vague historic period referred to as early modern times “self-murder” was viewed as the most mortal and despicable of all crimes against God, the King and self. The philosophy being that we belonged to and were owned both by God and/or whoever just happened to be wearing a Crown at the time. This being so, a successful suicide was the theft of property belonging to God, and/or whoever just happened to be wearing a crown at the time.

As we might expect. In those distant, slightly batty days there were many types of suicide: Insanity. Possession by demons. Please note that insanity and possession by demons are not the same. Nor are self-murderers and would be Martyrs.

Other categories include the Lovelorn. The unmarried and pregnant. Debtors – especially Debtors. Accidental suicides. Murder made to appear like suicide (and my favourite) criminals escaping punishment – what kind of an escape is that?

Unlike today coroners were local well-to-do men who had no medical training.

One of the hallmarks of that fabulous Age of Reason was that successful suicides (presumably those owning stuff that could be confiscated) were actually put on trial and if found guilty were buried facedown at a crossroads with a stake driven through their body. This legal “nicety” continued in England until around 1823.

 The "lucky ones" were buried at the northern area of the churchyard, which was unconsecrated and reserved for babies who died before baptism.

Those found guilty of self-murder forfeited the usual rights of inheritance. This meant that their property was taken by the Monarch; condemning the deceased’s family to a life of poverty. If found not guilty of self murder the normal rules of inheritance stood.

Possible verdicts included: Self-murder. Insanity. Accident. Natural causes. Murder by another person or persons. Misadventure. Or simply a very vague “Found dead”

In a study of Norwich, the rate of insanity findings in Suicidal Verdicts increased from 6% in 1660 to 90% by 1710 and 100% by 1770.