DEATH BY DROWNING
.—Early Thursday morning the body of a man was found floating in the canal near the towing path which skirts the Marsh. On being taken out it was found to be that of John Murphy, an Irishman, and a basket maker, who had been in the employ of Messrs. Smart and Sons for some years. It is thought he must have endeavoured to improperly get round the canal gate at the back of Mr. Coldicutt's. This gate is closed every evening at sunset, and notwithstanding that spikes are attached, persons are known to be reckless enough to risk their live in effecting a surreptitious passage. Having fallen he would be powerless to extricate himself as the current is now very swift, and would easily carry the body to the spot where it was found.
The deceased was removed to the old police station, and in the evening an inquest was held in the magistrates' room, before H. Watson, Esq., J.P., Borough Coroner, and a jury of whom Mr. Coeburn was foreman.
The following evidence was taken :—James Meddings said : I am a labourer and live in the Marsh-road. This morning, about twenty minutes past five, I was going down by the side of the canal in company with John Briscoe, milkman to Mr. Ire. Between the turnstile and the fourth hatch he called my-attention and said there is something in the water. I said it is like a jacket or coat. I had a prong with me. Briscoe said " Let us see what it is, and if we can get it out." Briscoe took the prong. I held him while he touched the coat. Having dragged it a little way, he found it was the body of a man. We got it near enough and then dragged it out on the towing path. Briscoe remained with the body whilst I went after the police.—By the foreman : There was no hat or cap near the body. The deceased had a short pipe between his finger and thumb when found.
— William Brunsden said : I live in Cheap-street. I saw the deceased last night, about half-past nine or a quarter to ten, in Mrs. Flint's bar, Cheap street. A poor woman came in and deceased gave her a penny. Deceased was drinking beer. He was not perfectly sober, but I consider he was quite able to take care of himself. I left the deceased in the bar. The woman referred to left before I did. I was not with the deceased more than twenty minutes. The barmaid refused to draw the deceased any beer. By the canal was a short cut to the home of the deceased. When in the bar the deceased asked me if I had any tobacco. I replied I had not.
—Supt. Bennett said: At twenty minutes to six this morning I was called by the witness, James Meddings. I went to the spot he referred to and found the deceased lying on the towing path. He appeared to have been dead for many hours. In his right hand was firmly clenched a short pipe. In his right hand trousers pocket I found 6d. In the breast pocket of his coat I found a pint empty bottle labelled "Encore Whisky." In another pocket I found a packet of tobacco and several pieces of bread. The body was placed on a stretcher and moved to the old police station. 'There was no indication on the bank of any scuffle having taken place. The deceased was forty years of age, and he has a wife and three children at Waterford, in Ireland.—The jury found an open verdict of "Found drowned." |
