The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-05-14 00:00:00

DEATH BY DROWNING.

An Inquest wu held on Tuesday, at itlchtnend, on the body
Of Blakeley Cerrins Wllbs. a tuanufacturtr d Blninnghain,
Who was drowned in the Thames on Saturday evening last.

Herbert E. NVillim, on of the dev•amed, maid he
resided at 68, Albert-street, Regent's-park, and that
hie father's residence was at Birmingham. He identified
the body now lying in the dead-house as that of his
late father. He was a manufacturer.
. _

-----
The Coroner ordered thin witness to retire fora
short time, and called Alfred H. Thompson, who raid
he lived at 13, Percy-circus, Pentonville, and on Satur-
day evening, about a quarter to nine, he and his
cousin anti a lady were in a boat on the rivet at Rich-
mond, when they heard the cties c a person who
was struggling In the water. They were accompanied
by s gurgling liound as if some one was drowning. Wit-
ness looked towards the spot whence the sound pro-
ceeded, and saw a man struggling in the water. Wit.
ness and his cousin pulled to the shore, when they could
distinctly see a man in the water. Witness got an oar,
but could not reach the man with it. Three gentle•
men in a boat came up, and they assisted in getting the
body ashore. A doctor wan sent for, but none came
for about twenty minutes. There was no one near the
bank where deceased was when witness first heard the
sound.
_

John Smoothy, coroner's officer, said he searched the
body and found £3 in gold, 7s. tid. in silver, a silver
watch, some paper containing writing, and other
articles. There was no writing relating to deceased'a
death.

Mr. Willis, recalled, deposed that he and his father
went to Richmond on Saturday afternoon last. They
first took a walk by the river, then had tea at the
Greyhound Hotel and then went to the railway station
for the purpose of returning to town. Deceased sat
down on the platform while witness went to see what
time the train started. Suddenly witness heard a
porter call out, "This way for Hammersmith I" and
he hastened to tell his father, when he found him
gone. Thinking he had probably entered a car.
'jag., unobserved, witness got into the train, and
was taken to Hammersmith, at whirh station
he looked for hie father, but could not ss e him. He
then went on to London, thinking deceived would
follow. He had not the slightest apprehension of any-
thing wrong at that time. On arriving at London he
went immediately to 43, Great RusselLstreet, the
residence of witness's brother, with whom deceased
had been staying for a few days, remained there that
night, and on the following rnorninf the witness
Smoothy came and informed him thnt ais father was
drowned.

By the Corotar : When we left London we went
from the deceased's manufactory, 67, Stanhope•street,
of which I have the charge.
The Coroner : Can you account for your father's
death in any way? Witness I can only conjecture
that, having missed me, and finding no train was going
for about an hour, soy father went for a stroll by the
_

The Coroner : At that late hote—Witness : Pro-
bably, and that pethapie he kicked against something
and fell in the river. He wan perfectly sober.
Frederick D. Robinson, solicitor, 3, Friston-rillas,
Richmond, said he was walking by the river-side on
Saturday night, about half.past eight, when a gentle-
man passed him, and said, hurriedly (pointing to the
railway bridge), "Jo that the railway ?" Witness
answered, "Yes." Shortly afterwards he heard a cry
of "Man in the water!" and on going to the spot
found the deceased being got out by several gentlemen,
Witness thought he felt deceased's pulse best after he
was got out. 'rhey did all they could to restore anima-
tion, but without effect. He should say the deceased
had been drinking a little, but he was decidedly not
drunk. Thought he must have accidentally fallen into
into the water. Heard no pillage or fall. The jury
returned a t'er,lict of "Accidental death."