JOSEPH COLLIER

DEATH FROM FALLING INTO THE WATER

An inquest was held in the Board Room of the Newbury Workhouse, on Monday evening, by Dr. Watson, J.P., Borough Coroner, touching the death of Joseph Collier, who came by his death under the circumstances as described by the following witnesses. Mr. Frederick Smallbone, clerk at the Newbury Gas Works, said on Thursday, the 31^st January, shortly after two o’clock, he was walking along the towing path towards Greenham. When near the Fourth Hatch he saw what appeared to be a man’s hat. Almost simultaneously he saw a man’s shoulder, and immediately fetched the drag placed close to the hatches by the Angling Association. He reached across to the deceased and drew him towards the bank; but owing to the weight and steepness of the bank he was unable to lift the deceased out. He kept his head above water as well as he could. He called for assistance, and saw a man at the wharf on the opposite side of the river. He started, and running round by Mr. Coldicutt’s, came to witness’ assistance with P.C. Wheeler. They lifted deceased out of the water, and took him to the surgery of Messrs. Ryott and Birch, where Dr. Ryott attended to him. Deceased was unconscious, and after being taken out he groaned, and was unable to speak until his arrival at the surgery. There were no indications on the bank as though a struggle had taken place. When in the water the face of the deceased was downwards.

Mr. Robert Birch, registered medical practitioner, said he first saw the deceased at his surgery, on the morning of Jan. 31^st. He then asked for an order for the Workhouse. Witness told him he must apply to Mr. Hickman or Mr. Hattatt. Deceased said he was subject to fits, which he could feel coming on. In the afternoon of the same day witness was informed that the man had been taken out of the water, and saw him afterwards in the infirmary, but he had not then entirely recovered from the effects of his immersion.  He told witness that he did not know how he got into the water. Saw him next day, and he had then recovered, but he had since suffered from  several epileptic fits,  for which witness prescribed. Deceased died on Monday morning, in witness’ opinion, from syncope due to a weak heart. No doubt the event was accelerated by the immersion. There were no marks to indicate violence, or any suspicion of foul play. Witness was of opinion that the deceased must have had a fit at the canal side, and so fallen into the water.

P.C. Gamble said the deceased was a basket-maker and had been in the employ of Messrs. Smart and Son. He had been lodging at the “Steamer,” having neither home nor relatives.

Mr. Hawkes,  Master of the Workhouse, said the deceased had told him he was 41 years of age; but his appearance led the Jury to think he was much older.

The jury, of whom Mr. John Davis was foreman, returned a verdict of “Death from syncope, the cause being from immersion in the water, into which he had fallen whilst in an epileptic fit.” The jury, at the suggestion of the foreman, recorded their recognition of the gallantry and humanity of Mr. Frederick Smallbone, who first saw deceased in the water and used every endeavour to extricate him from his perilous position.

“COLLIER – Feb. 4 at the Workhouse, Newbury, Joseph Collier, aged 51 years.”

Newbury Weekly News 7 February 1884

Not in Mrs. P.     Buried 5 February 1884, age given as 41.