EDWIN LIPSCOMBE
Death of a Child by Drowning.
—On Thursday evening an inquest was held in the Council Chamber, before the Borough Coroner, T. H. Hawkins, Esq., on the body of Edward* Lipscombe, four years and four months old, son of John Lipscombe, a chairmaker, living in West Mills, near the Kennet and Avon Canal.
Deceased was seen by his father near the water shortly before seven o'clock on Wednesday evening, and sent homewards, but soon afterwards his cap was found near the edge of the Canal, and as the child could nowhere be found a search was immediately made, and after about twenty minutes had elapsed, the body was seen lying face upwards at the bed of the Canal, opposite the wharf of Messrs. M. A. Adey and Son, coal merchants, where the water is seven feet deep.
A man named Bright, in the employ of the above firm, who had exerted himself to find the body, then had rope attached to him and dived to the bottom of the water, bringing the body, which was removed to the Crown public-house. Mr. Montague H. C. Palmer, surgeon, had been attending a patient in Northcroft-lane, and, seeing the crowd, drove to the spot, and examined the body, which appeared quite lifeless. He nevertheless did his utmost to restore animation for some 20 minutes, but without success. No one had observed the child fall into the water.
Bright had rescued children from drowning on previous occasions near the same place, and the Coroner and Jury agreed expression of opinion that his services were deserving of recognition by the Royal Humane Society. The Coroner awarded him a gratuity of 5s., and the Jury gave their fees to the father of the unfortunate child, it being stated that he was poor and had large family. Several jurymen supplemented their fees by contributions for Lipscombe, and he and Bright thanked the Coroner and Jury for their kindness.
A verdict of " Accidental death by drowning" was returned. Mr. E. Knight, of the Town Mill, was foreman of the Jury.
* The Burial Register clearly shows “Edwin”. |
