The Lieflock Line, Wootton Rivers and Tangley Trees

This is all that is known of William's death:

From the 'Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle' of 25 May 1895:

"SHOCKING SUICIDE AT NORTH END The Coroner (Mr T A Bramsden, JP) held an inquest at his Court in the Town Hall, Landport, on Wednesday touching the death of William Lovelock, aged 23 years.

In opening the inquiry, the Coroner explained that the dead body was found in a lane at North End on Sunday morning with a bullet wound in the head. A revolver was by the side of the deceased. Up to Tuesday the remains were not identified, but some people had come down from London and recognised the body as that of a barman employed at the Blade Bone public-house, Bethnal Green-road, London. He appeared to have left London, and was seen at Aldershot and afterwards at Chichester, from which city he was supposed to have come on to Portsmouth. The Coroner added that as evidence from London was required to clear up the case, he should adjourn the inquiry for a week, simply taking evidence of identification on this occasion.

Rosa Lovelock,living at 122, High Street, Whitechapel, London, identified the body as that of her brother. He was a single man, and for two months was head barman at the Blade Bone public-house, bethnal Green, kept by Mr Lara. Witness last saw him alive on the 31st of March. He was a steady man, and was engaged to be married. Since witness saw him last, he had had the influenza. He was of a cheerful disposition, and witness had never heard him threaten to commit suicide. She knew of no reason why he should come to Portsmouth, Aldershot, or Chichester. He had no trouble in connection with his employment.

Elizabeth Bidewell, housemaid at the Railway Hotel, Grove-road, Bow, London, said she had been engaged to be married to the deceased for the last three years. They were greatly attached to each other. Deceased was a steady man. Witness last saw him on the 30th ult. He appeared very excited, but said nothing to her which would lead her to suppose that he was leaving the Blade Bone, or that he was going down to Aldershot, Chichester, and Portsmouth.

• The Coroner: You say that he was excited. Was he strange in his manner?
• The Witness: Yes; excited and strange.

They arranged to meet on the following day at the Earl of Aberdeen, Roman-road, but although witness kept the appointment the deceased did not turn up, and she had not since heard or seen anything of him until she was shown his dead body in the mortuary. Witness had had no quarrel with the deceased, and they parted the best of friends. She was sure he was a steady man.

The case was then adjourned for a week to enable the police to complete their inquiries.