SAD CASE OF DROWNING.
A sad sensation was caused in the town on Saturday afternoon by the report that Daniel Soper, well known in Newbury as a market gardener and shop-keeper, had been found drowned in the river near the old Bone-mill. unfortunately proved too true, and the circumstances in connection with the melancholy affair will be found below.
An inquest was held on Monday morning, at the "Swan" Inn, before J. C. Pinniger, Esq., County Coroner. The Jury sworn were as follows: Mr. Edward Fidler (foreman), and Messrs. F. C . Fidler, H. S. Paice, R. Lovelock, jun., R. Tayler, H. Challis. R. Freeman, F. Clark, W. Baxter, sen., C. Rolfe, J. Winterbourne, A. Lewis, and J. Dell. The Jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was taken.

Joseph Mess said - I live at the Lock-house at Greenham, and am a machine maker. The deceased came into the "White House" whilst I was there on Saturday last, about twelve o'clock. We had three pints of ale together in the house. He told me he came down to see his brother-in-law, William Willis, who was coming Bucklebury. We afterwards had two quarts of beer between the three of us, outside on the stile. The other man's name was Israel Blanchard, who left first, then I followed, leaving the deceased sitting on the stile. He wrote a letter in the taproom. I went home for the ink and pens, and Blanchard posted the letter. Deceased did not say to whom he was writing. I cannot say that this letter produced by P.C. Fisher is the one. About half-an-hour afterwards I walked back, intending to go the "White House," for some more beer. Just as I was coming under the Railway-bridge I saw a man's arm in the stream. I heard no cry for help. I ran and holloaed for assistance. Two men came up, and the body was then floating the Thatcham side of the swing-bridge. All three of us tried to reach the body. The two men had landing nets, but they were not long enough, and ultimately a man, who was unloading wheat at Mr. Lewis’ mill, came up with a “hitcher”,and got the body out. The clothes were on the body, with the exception of his hat. His trousers were down round his ankles. Deceased was sober when I left him. He was quite rational in his conversation, and appeared in his usual health. He was explaining about a great trial he had had in Reading.

Edwin Stilwell, landlord of the " White House," said on Saturday last a few minutes before twelve the deceased came into his house. He drank Joseph Moss, and when the cup was emptied deceased had it filled. After he had been in a few minutes he asked witness for writing paper and envelope, and a stamp. He gave it to deceased and he paid for the stamp. He identified the paper of the letter produced. He did not hear him say to whom he was writing. Deceased appeared to be in a humour and joking with people. He stayed in the house about an hour and had three pints of beer with Moss, and also some bread and cheese. When outside Moss paid for quart and Blanchard for one. Passers-by drank of the beer. Witness was afterwards going to his garden and heard Moss cry out "Man in the water." Witness caught up a landing net and ran out and crossed the swing bridge. The body woe reply was then about 20 yards below the bridge. Witness got into the water far as he was able, and was just able to reach deceased with the net, but could not hold it. He afterwards assisted to get deceased out. The trousers were disordered and down about his heels.

P.C. Fisher said he was passing over the swing-bridge, and his attention was called to the blue apron and hat of the deceased. The apron was laid on one of the piles on the Newbury side of the bridge, and the hat was on the platform used for opening the bridge. Witness found the body lying on the bank between the first hatch and the Bone-mill. He found a number of articles upon the deceased, but no money. The watch stopped exactly at three o'clock. There was a letter from Prudential Assurance Company, asking for the payment of a debt of £10 8s. 6d. incurred by Mr. Spicer, and for whom deceased was surety.
There was no recent entry in his pocket book.

Witness had examined the banks and there were no marks of anyone slipping. Deceased was 58 years old.

The letter spoken of was produced, but it was so illegible that the Jury were unable to make any sense of the same. The envelope was directed to Mrs. Soper, who received it on Saturday evening by the last post.

The Jury returned a verdict of "Found Drowned."

A juryman suggested that a drag should be kept at the " White House," and instanced the case of a gentleman falling into the river near the spot last week. The Coroner quite concurred with the suggestion.

DISTRESSING DROWNING CASE.— On Monday, Mr. J. C. Pinniger, district coroner, held an inquest at the Swan Inn, touching the death of Daniel Soper, market gardener, whose body was found on Saturday in the river near the Bone Mill. —

Joseph Moss, of the Lock House, Greenham, deposed that on Saturday at mid-day he was at the " White House," when deceased came in and they had three pints of ale together, deceased, witness and Israel Blanchard afterwards drinking two more quarts between them on the stile near. Deceased wrote a letter in the tap-room, and Blanchard posted it. Witness left soon after Blanchard, leaving deceased sitting on the stile, and on returning half-an-hour afterwards for the purpose of getting some more beer he saw a man's arm in the stream as he was passing under the railway bridge. Witness heard no cry. He at once raised an alarm, and the body was got out.

When at the inn deceased was perfectly rational in his conversation, but said he had had a great trial in Reading, and that he was expecting his brother-in-law from Bucklebury. He did not tell witness to whom he was writing.—Edwin Stilwell, landlord of the White House lnn, said while in his house deceased appeared to be in a good humour and joked with people. He afterwards helped to get the body out of the water.—

P.C. Fisher deposed to finding upon deceased, among other things, a letter from the Prudential Assurance Company, asking for the payment of a debt of £10 8s. 6d., incurred by a Mr. Spicer, and for whom deceased was surety. There was no recent entry in his pocket book. Witness had examined the banks- and there were no marks of anyone slipping. Deceased was 58 years of age. —

The letter said to have been written by deceased at the inn was produced; it was addressed to Mrs Soper, who got it by the last post on Saturday, but its contents were found to be illegible.—

A verdict of "Found Drowned" was recorded, a juryman making the suggestion, in which the Coroner concurred, that a drag should be kept at the "White House."

MELANCHOLY DEATH BY DROWNING AT THATCHAM. An inquest was held on Monday morning last at the Swan Inn, in the parish of Thatcham, on the body of Daniel Soper, a well-known inhabitant of Newbury, whose body was found in the water near the old bone mill on Saturday afternoon last. The deceased was a market gardener, and carried on business in Bartholomew-street.

Mr. J. C. Pinniger, county coroner, took the following evidence:-

Joseph Moss said : I live at the Lock House, Greenham. and am machine maker. The deceased came into the “White House" whilst I was there on Saturday last about twelve o'clock. had three pints of ale altogether in the house. He told came down see his brother-in-law, William Willis, who was coming from Bucklebury. We afterwards had two quarts of beer between three of us, outside on the stile. The other man’s name was Israel Blanchard, who left first, and then I followed, leaving the deceased sitting on stile. He wrote a letter in tap room. I went home for the ink and pens, and Blanchard posted the letter. Deceased did not say to whom he was writing. I cannot say that this letter produced P.C. Fisher is the one. About half hour afterwards I walked back, intending to go to the "White House" for some more beer. Just as I was coming under the railway bridge I saw man's arm in the stream. I heard no cry for help. ran and holloaed for assistance. Two men came up and tho body was then floating on the Thatcham side of the swing bridge. All three us tried to reach the body. The two men had landing nets, but they were not long enough, and ultimately man, who was unloading wheat at Mr. Lewis’ mill, came up with a "hitcher," and got the body out. The clothes were on the body with the exception of his hat. The trousers were down round his legs. Deceased was sober when I left him. He was quite rational in his conversation, and appeared in his usual health. He was explaining about a great trial he had had in Reading.

Edwin Stilwell, landlord of the White House," said that on Saturday last, a few minutes before twelve, the deceased came into his house. drank with Joseph Moss, and when the cup was emptied the deceased had it filled. After he had been in a few minutes he asked witness for writing paper and an envelope and stamp. He gave it to the deceased and he paid for the stamp. He identified the paper of the letter produced. He did not hear him say to whom was writing. The deceased appeared to be in good humour and joking with people. He stayed in the house about hour and had three pints of beer with Moss, and also some bread and cheese. When outside Moss paid for quart and Blanchard for one. Passers-by drank of the beer. Witness was afterwards going to his garden and heard Moss cry out "Man in the water.” Witness caught up landing net and ran out and crossed the swing bridge. The body was then about twenty yards below the bridge. Witness got into the water as far he was able, and was just able to reach the deceased with the net. but could not hold it. He afterwards assisted to get the deceased out. The trousers were disordered and down about his heels.

P.C. Fisher said was passing over the swing-bridge and his attention was called to the blue apron and hat of the deceased. The apron was laid on one of the piles the Newbury side of the bridge, and the hat was on the platform used for opening the bridge. Witness found the body lying on the bank between the first hatch and the Bone Mill. He found a number of articles upon the deceased, but no money. The watch stopped exactly at three o'clock. There was a letter from the Prudential Assurance Company, asking for the payment of a debt of £10 8s. 6d., incurred by a Mr. Spicer, and for whom the deceased was surety. There was no recent entry in his pocket book. Witness had examined the banks and there were no marks of anyone slipping. The deceased was sixty-eight years of age. The letter spoken of was produced, but it was illegible.

Mrs. Soper received it on Saturday evening by the last post.

The jury returned open verdict of "Found drowned."