TOM KING

SUDDEN DEATH IN A BARGE

 On Thursday evening the Borough Coroner (Dr. Bunny) held an inquest at the Council Chamber, on the body of Tom King, 13 years of age, who died suddenly in a barge on the Kennet and Avon Canal during the previous night, under circumstances which the following evidence will show:

Joseph Eacott, of Reading, owner and captain of a boat lying above the lock at West Mills, deposed:- Deceased was first employed shortly after last Whitsuntide. I have heard him complain of feeling "very queer" in his head.  I never put him to hard work, because he was not fit to do it. We came from Aldermaston yesterday and arrived at Newbury about six in the evening, deceased walking about half the distance.  All the deceased had to do after he arrived was to help pull the boats out of the lock. At eight o'clock I found the deceased had gone to his bed. I knocked this morning to arouse the boy, but he made me no answer, and when my man Emmens looked into the cabin he found him dead. The covering of the cabin was raised two or three inches. Deceased was a steady, good boy; his father has worked for me two years.

Thomas King, of Devizes, carter in the employ of the last witness, stated:-  The deceased is my son. He was very delicate when a child, and used to have fits, but as he grew older he became stronger. The captain was always very kind to him. I was called by Emmens to the cabin, and found the boy dead. He had fallen out of bed, and I thought he must have had fit. His face was a little warm. He ate a hearty supper of bread and cheese, but no beer. The foreman said the boy was playing about as lively as possible in West Fields last evening.

James Emmens, boat man, of Reading, deposed:-  I last saw the deceased alive at seven o'clock last evening. I went to bed at 7.30, as I did not feel well. Deceased appeared well. The shutter was open as much as seven or eight inches. I know of nothing in the state of the cabin that could have caused his death. Deceased has slept in the cabin ever since he has worked with us.

In reply to a juror (Mr Deller) the Coroner said there was no sign of death having resulted from violence or poison. He would order a post mortem examination if the jury wished it. The jury having deliberated for a few minutes the foreman (Mr. R. Shaw) said they were unanimously of opinion that "deceased died by the visitation of God, probably in a fit."

The jurymen kindly presented their fees to the father, Thomas King, who said his wages were 13s. Per week, out of which he had to keep his wife and family at Devizes, and also maintain himself while travelling with the boats. The jury inspected the cabin in which deceased had died, and found that the ventilation was afforded by a chimney, and also by the hatchway being partially open.

bur 19^th March 1870