NEWBURY INNKEEPER' S SAD END

ACCIDENTAL DEATH INQUEST AT SHAW

The untimely death of Mr. Henry Matthews, the landlord of the "Rose and Thistle," Northbrook-street, necessitated the holding of a Coroner's inquiry on Thursday last. The body having been taken out of water at Shaw Mill, just outside the borough of Newbury, made it incumbent on the County Coroner, Mr. S.V. Pinniger, holding the inquiry, and the foreman of the jury was Mr. Dunn. The body had been removed to a cottage overlooking the scene of the accident, and here the inquest was held.

Notwithstanding a careful hearing of all the circumstances of the case, the cause of the misadventure remained undiscovered, and why Mr. Matthews should have gone across the Shaw bridge, away from home, the jury were unable to elucidate. One witness advanced the theory that the deceased had slipped down into the stream, and had groped about until overcome by cold and cramp. In support of which he endeavoured to show that there was no eddy into the mill tail after the water was shut off, and that anything in the stream would stop exactly in the same position as it fell in. As the body was some eight or ten yards further along. He suggested that the deceased had walked along there endeavouring to find a way out, from the evidence, however, it appeared highly probable that Mr. Matthews had walked into the chains and been flung head foremost into the river, both his shins and head being marked. Thus he would have been stunned. Had it been otherwise he could have shouted and, as the night was still and calm, those living near at hand would in all probability have heard and a rescue might have been effected. The deceased was well acquainted with the locality, and had consciousness remained after the fall into the bed of the stream, it would have been possible for him to have scrambled out. It was, however, a most unfortunate occurrence, and it is possible to connect the fatality with the coal strike, if not to make it responsible, for had the friendly gas lamp on the bridge been lighted, the illumination would have shown the danger to be avoided. As it was the jury desired the Coroner to call the attention of the owner, the Hon. Mrs. Farquhar, to the danger arising from the fence at this point being inadequate for the purposes of safety.

THE INQUEST

Quite a large number of persons collected at noon on Thursday in the neighbourhood of the bridge to watch the arrival of the Coroner, the jurymen and the witnesses whose duty it was to attend the inquest. The first evidence was that of Robert Green, motor salesman of 8, Carnarvon-terrace, Newbury, who said that the body the jury had viewed was that of his uncle, Henry Matthews, landlord of the "Rose and Thistle". He was aged 49 years. Last saw him at 10.15 on Tuesday night. He was then in perfect health, quite as usual, and perfectly sober. He had not had an illness for over a year. Formerly he had suffered for years with rheumatic gout. He had lived with him for two years until Christmas. The last time he was ill was I October 1910, and he had not suffered much since. In answer to the Coroner, he said his uncle could swim, but the last time he was in the water was quite 15 [?] years ago, because of his rheumatism. He had always been quite right mentally.

By a Juryman- He was last seen by the witness at the "Rose and Thistle". Witness was there two hours that night.

Henry Greenham, who described himself as an army pensioner, residing in Cromwell-road, Shaw, said that on Tuesday night at 11 o'clock, he left the "Rose and Thistle" with the deceased, as he had some dozens and dozens of times before. They were very particular friends. They called upon Mr. Flock, also a personal friend, at the "Old Dog." They did not hurry on the walk, so they would arrive there about 11.20. They stayed there and had a drink with Mr. Flock. They were in the kitchen, and as near as he could judge they both left together between twenty minutes and a quarter to twelve. Deceased was very jolly and quite sober. They parted on the Newbury side of the bridge outside the "Old Dog." Witness said "Good night, old boy, I will meet you in the morning." That was absolutely the last he saw of deceased. Witnessed crossed the bridge to go to Shaw and deceased apparently went the other way. It was very dark that night and very dangerous crossing the bridge. There should always be a light there. When there was a moon and the light was turned off he had often walked into the parapet of the bridge. It was a very dangerous place. He heard no noise after he left the deceased and there was no calling. It was a quiet night.

By a Juryman — He saw nobody else at all about. The Coroner elicited the fact that there was a gas(?) lamp on the Bridge, but that it has been discontinued owing to the coal strike.

Frederick Cannon, watercress grower, residing at Shaw, said he was coming from the direction of Newbury on Wednesday morning at about 10 minutes to six and he noticed what appeared to be some sacks about half-way along the mill tail. He went closer along the side of the river, and saw it to be the dead body of a man. It was face downwards in the stream and the hands were reaching to the bottom. He rung the miller's bell and told him, and went home close by to get a hook. He came back, and by kneeling on the bank got hold of the coat collar of the deceased and pulled him to the bank. With the miller they got him on to the bank. They then informed P.C. Taylor. He noticed marks at the corner close to the parapet of the Shaw Bridge. The place where the deceased had slid down could still be seen. He believed the deceased was standing there. The bank being on the slope his feet slipped and he fell forward, pitching over the chains. The mill was not working and there was no current. It had been stated that the deceased was stunned, but he found marks along the bank might have been made by him. The body was still when they got it to the bank. Life was quite extinct, and had been so for some time.

A Juryman: Were there any footmarks outside the chain?- Yes, but these marks where he slid were brushed the way the body had slipped. The deceased had a heavy overcoat which was unbuttoned. He knew nothing about any other of his clothes.

After he had finished giving evidence, Mr. Cannon said there was a rumour about the deceased was stunned, but how could he have got along the mill tail as far as he did if he was stunned the witness failed to see. He may have been stunned at first, but he did not remain so, as he must have found his feet. Most probably he groped about until he was thoroughly exhausted by cramp and cold and the thick weeds over his boots, until he fell and was drowned. He would not have moved from the spot where he fell in if he was insensible, as there was no current at all on the mill tail, it was absolutely dead water.

The miller also gave similar evidence. The water there was like a pond, and there was no back current at all. The water did not set back at all.

Mr. Cannon said he considered the deceased had a severe struggle. He got his feet into the long thick weeds and became so exhausted that he had to drop. The position in which he was found would bear that out.

Mr. Green—There were several marks on his face which appeared as though he had fallen head first into the water.

P.C. Frederick W. Taylor, living at Shaw-crescent, said he saw the body a few minutes after six on Wednesday morning. It was lying on the bank, and with the assistance of Percy Titcombe, Cannon, and another man, he took it to a stable at the Mill. He noticed that the bank had been disturbed where the last witness had pointed out. He searched the body and found £1.0 13s. 3d. On him, a watch and a chain, cigarette case, knife, letters, etc. There were weeds on the decease's shoe, his overcoat was undone and his clothing was otherwise disarranged. He examined the body. There were small bruises on the face; they were hardly bruises – he thought those marks came from contact with the bed of the river. On his right shin was a bruise about two inches long, 18 inches from the sole of his foot. He measured the chain and found its height from the ground was 18 inches. From the top of the chain to the water was six feet, and the water was two feet deep, so that there was a drop of 8ft. to the bottom of the river. There were no other marks on the body. In company with Mr. R. Green and Mr. Vernon Knight they examined his private papers at the "Rose and Thistle," but could find nothing whatever relating to the sad occurrence. The soft felt hat was found by Percy Titcombe the lower side of the bridge, in the water. It had sunk to the bottom of the river. He had seen the daughter of the landlord of the "Old Dog," who bore out what the witness Greenham had said. She heard no noise whatever that night.

The Coroner said they had heard the evidence and had examined the spot, so that they were familiar with the circumstances of the case.

The jury thereupon returned a verdict of accidental death from drowning by falling into the Lambourn stream at the mill tail at Shaw Mill.

The foreman called attention to the dangerous state of the fences near the bridge. It was quite necessary that something should be altered for the protection of the public. He proposed that the owner, Mrs. Farquhar, should be written to on the subject. This was seconded and carried.

The attention of the Gas Committee of the Town Council was also called to the necessity of the point lamp at the end of the Bridge being always lighted.

The proceedings then terminated, having lasted about one hour.

THE FUNERAL

The funeral of the late Mr. Henry Matthews took place at the Cemetery on Saturday, the service being taken by the Rector. The mourners were Mrs. Wheeler, Mrs. Hunt, Mrs. Wiltshire (sisters), Mr. Wiltshire (brother-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. R. Green, Miss L. Green (nephew and nieces), Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Attewell, Messrs. W. Fabry, jun. F.J. Cambridge, Brown, and Knapp, represented the Licensed Victuallers, Mr. V. C. Knight, and Mr. G. Poffley represented the Newbury Brewery Co. Mr. G. Paulin, Mr. Greenham, Mr. T. Dew, etc. A number of friends assembled at the Cemetery, and along the route shutters and blinds were drawn. The coffin was of English oak, polished, with solid brass furniture, the breastplate being inscribed "Henry Matthews Died March 20', aged 49 years"

Newbury Weekly News 28 March 1912

Born 27 January 1863 Died 20March 1912 (although the date given for the funeral and burial is 23 March) Bk 1899 p. 225 no. 8994 Mrs P. p. 80 N Ch(c)2

Also wife Evelyn born 18 December 1862. Died 9 Sept. 1909.