In the case of a suicide, or any other violent
death, an inquest will have been held, and in the past this might well in
the nearest public house, within a day of the death (before the body started to
smell). After 1837 the cause of death will be given on the death certificate.
There could be a report in a local newspaper such as the case of William Wood in 1828 or John Olliffe in 1827. Such reports are more
likely later in the 19th century after the stamp tax came off and the size of
papers started to increase. However few local papers are indexed - and while the
HALS index contains some index cards
relating to newspaper articles it probably covers less than 1% of what would be
necessary for a reasonably comprehensive index.
When I recently asked about a particular inquest I discovered that in many cases
the coroner's records will not have survived - although there will be Court
records in the case of a murder - when the culprit is tried.
Basically your best advice is to work out the family tree properly - and
(assuming you are talking after 1837) track down the deaths of likely
candidates. Then buy their death certificates which will give the cause of
death. If they committed suicide, or there was some other reason for an inquest. you now have a precise date to look at the
relevant newspaper.
Other Examples
A Fatal Road Traffic Accident in St Albans - 1885
Shocking Death of a Game-Keeper at Bell Bar - 1890
SAUNDERS, Aldbury, inquest in 1882