DISCOVERY OF THE MISSING MAN
On Monday, December 21st, a young man named John Edward Down, living with his parents in Bear-Lane, Market Place, Newbury, left his home, and as he did not return that night his friends became anxious. Day after day brought no tidings, adding to the suspense of his friends, which at times became well-nigh unbearable. Christmas came bringing with it the joy of festivity, but not to the home of the deceased. The New Year brought no solution as to this mystery. Meanwhile search had been made along the river bank, and portions of the river had been dragged without success. Friday last was the thirty-first day that Down had been absent from his home. On the morning of that day a barge passed along the canal. The motion of the water probably detached the body which had become entangled in some roots, or was lying in the bed of the stream, for subsequently a corpse was observed floating in the water below Ham Bridge. On being taken out it was identified, and thus the month’s search had become solved in the way most people thought it would. When taken out of the water the body was conveyed to the “Swan” where the inquest was held. There were no marks of violence of any sort on the body, and it was evident that death had resulted from drowning. The deceased had suffered from influenza at the end of last year, and from his father’s evidence latterly had been absent minded and showed signs of behaving strangely. The jury having had no evidence of any kind to guide them as to where or how the young man came into the water, returned an open verdict.
THE INQUEST necessitated by this melancholy discovery, was held on Friday afternoon, at the “Swan” Inn, London-road, before the County Coroner, Mr. J. C. Pinniger. Mr. Charles Rolfe was chosen the foreman of the jury. The first witness examined was John Edward Down, the father of the deceased, who worked for Mr. Westcombe, and living at Bear Cottage, Bear Lane. He said he identified the body as that of his son, John Edward. He was 26 years old last May. The last he saw of him was on December 21st, about a quarter-past five, at his house. He returned home earlier in the year through ill health, but had obtained another situation, and was going to it on Wednesday, the 23rd of December. He complained that he was unhinged and had run down, through ill health. He had no trouble. He appeared to take no notice of anything, nor could he remember anything. He was accustomed to go walks. On the day in question he went out and did not return. Inquiries had been made, and the water was dragged by P.C. Gibbs.
Frederick Clarke, of Ham Bridge Dairy, said about a quarter to ten on that morning Mr. F. Cox called his attention to something in the water, and he helped to get it out. It was just below the Swing Bridge in the centre of the canal. They drew the body to the bank with a rope, and got it out. The body was brought to the Swan in his cart, and he went and informed the police. A barge was going through that morning, and the body had probably been raised to the surface by it.
P.C. Gibbs said he had searched the body, but discovered nothing of importance. The Coroner having briefly summed up the facts, the jury, without further consideration, were unanimous in returning a verdict of “Found drowned.”
The funeral took place at the Cemetery, on Monday afternoon, the Rev. W. M. Hope officiating. |