From the South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 5 June 1832.

Afflicting occurrence.

On Sunday afternoon a young lad, named Jesse Nelson, the son of the landlord of the "Bell Inn," Thurnham, met his death under the following melancholy circumstances.

He dined with the family, on that day, at 1 o'clock, and soon afterwards retired to the bedroom to dress himself. His uncle having called in about 3 o'clock, the servant was sent for the deceased; and, on her return, she told her mistress that he was "asleep on the door." The mother repaired to the room, where she was horror struck at perceiving her son suspended by the neck by a handkerchief attached to the wooden bolt of the door. The bolt was about 3 feet and a half from the floor; and his death had evidently been caused by the sudden slamming of the door after the handkerchief had been affixed to the bolt. Medical assistance was probably rendered; but all attempts at reanimation were unavailing. As the lad was of a cheerful and amiable disposition, and was treated with great indulgence by his afflicted parents, there can be no doubt that his death was purely accidental. A man in the immediate neighbourhood who committed suicide a few days previously; and the affair was talked over in the taproom of the inn. The deceased was present on the occasion; and it is probable that a wish to ascertain the sensation produced by hanging, induced him to try the foolish and fatal experiment. The deceased was in his 13th year. An inquest will be held on the body, this day, before R. Hinds, Esq., one of the Coroner's for West Kent.