Hanns Bleuler

Dr Hanns Bleuler was found hanging from a tree in a wooded lane in Wytham.

Dr Hanns Bleuler was an analytical chemist and a doctor of science from London and Birmingham and had lived in Randolph Gardens in Carlton Vale, London. He had an office on New Street in Birmingham.

The police found that a rope had been tied to the bough of the tree and that the other end had a running noose. His feet were found to be about seven inches from the ground.

The Coroner returned an open verdict in order to give the police time to make further inquiries but noted that he could have gone further and returned a verdict of suicide.

His brother-in-law said that he last saw Dr Hanns Bleuler in March 1931 when he was over in England from Thun in Switzerland where he lived. He said that he seemed all right then and noted that he was very busy with his business. He said that Dr Hanns Bleuler was a keen sportsman and that he went in for rowing, driving, football and most sports and that he was the president of the Swiss Grasshoppers' Club. When he was found he had a letter on him from the Swiss Grasshoppers' Club that dealt with the question of professional and unprofessional members.

Dr Hanns Bleuler's brother-in-law said that he soon after spoke to a gentleman at Berne and said that when he told him what had happened to Dr Hanns Bleuler, the gentleman had said 'Impossible! I had a quarter of an hour's talk with him on the phone yesterday. I was in Dusseldorf and Dr Hanns Bleuler talked from the Chemical Industries Club in Whitehall.'. Dr Hanns Bleuler's brother-in-law said that the man went on to tell him that Dr Hanns Bleuler had told him that he was very busy and that he had just had a big order and was very happy.

It was heard that the girl typist at the Birmingham office had received her salary by registered post on the Saturday morning which was an unusual procedure and it was heard that the registered slip was found on Dr Hanns Bleuler's body.

When Dr Hanns Bleuler was found he had whisky on him. It was noted that the seal on the bottle was still unbroken. It was further heard that Dr Hanns Bleuler never drank whisky, even when he was at home and that he would sometimes drink wine or brandy.