The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-07-03 00:00:00

SAD CASE OF DROWNING.

William Lovelace. an old man over 60 years of age,
and for some years in the employ of Mr. Robert
Hill, coal merchant, was found drowned in the river
Froome early this (Monday) morning. The circum-
stances attending the death are of a somewhat distress-
ing nature, am will be seen by the evidence of the
witnessee at the inquest, which was hold at the Soho .1-
room, West Fordington, this ( Monday) morning, before
Mr. Henry Symonds ( i)eputy-Corooer) and the follow.
lug jurWr. J. R. Taylor (foreman) and Messrs. J.
(Riling W. J. Tuttell. H. Foot. W. Wood, C.
Adams, T. use, S. Sy mes, D. Marjoram, J. Stockley,
J. Foot, and G. Clark.
Richard Bowen, keeper in the employ of the Dor-
chester Fiabiog Association, mid this morning he
was returning from his rounds, having been out all
night. About six o'clock. on the lett-hand side of the
bridge on the new road to Charminster, he saw a man
lying in the wster. He called to his assistance a man
n amed G surge L •ster, who was; deg out of the town with
a coal waggon. They pulled the body out of the water
and laid it on the bank. The body was that of William
Lovelace. He was quite deed He sent for the police
and • doctor, and be remained with the holy till they
came. The water he was lying in was quite shallow,
only about 18 to 20 inches in depth. He was lying
fiat on his face. and was not quite c ,vered with water.
Witness looked but could see no blows on his face, nor
any injury whatever. When he first saw him, part of
the body was underneath the bridge.
ilizsbeth Lovelace, widow of the deceased, said her
husband had been in the servioe of Mr. Hill as carter
for more than nine years. lie went to bed
ma usual on Sunday night about 10 o'clock. lie made
no complaint when he went to bed, and he partook of
'upper previously. A. a rule, he always called her to
get up to get his breakfast lie generally west to
work about five o'clock. This morning he did not call
her, and she di I not wake up till six. She then found
her haeband had gone. She was not alarmed, as she
thought he had gone to the stable. Shortly after sir
someone came to the house and gave the alarm. Of
late he had complained of his work being too hard for
him, and that wee the only complaint he made. He
said he seemed so bad in himolf that he could not
work at all. lie was not a particularly infirm man, but
was home a day and • half last week, in consequence
of • cold. Sometimes he made mention of destroying
himself, if his work WM not lighter. He said • week
or two ago his work tried his nerves so much that he
should either have to go up in "the house," or he
should pet an end to himself. He was unwell when
he said chat ; yesterday he was in his usual spirits and
made no complaint. He had no family trouble that
she was aware of. She had anticipated anything
of this sort. He maned from hernia of * very serious
nature, elzich produced great debility.
Eliza Ooz said she heard the denuded go out this
morning about five o'clock. On the previous evening
about half-past nine she saw him and wished
him good night He appeared to be quite
sober, and wee in bed by ten. He had
eomplainod to her greatly of his work. Be was a
quiet inoffensive man, and he and his wife lived very
comfortably together. A few weeks ago Mrs.
Lovelace called her in to see him. She went in, surd
he told her he could not do his work much longer sad
he should put an and to himself. She suggested that
the pariah might relieve him, but be said he never
would go to the house. She told him if he threatened
to destroy himself it would be her duty to make an
alarm. He was very excited at the time, and
appeared to have been drinking. He mid he had
some trouble, but he did not tell her what It was.
His wife was very attentive to him, and waited on
him like • shad; she was a very good wife indeed.
Honey Watts Greening, living at the bottom of
High Eaet.street, said he knew the demised. He saw
him this morning about tea Wastes to five. Deceased
wag jug leaving his house; he was smoking, and wee
Ecitdown Grove-bnildings. lie did not speak to
g and he noticed nothing unusual about him.
Dammed had never complained to him of scything.
Mr. Clark lone of the lure) said as prevention wars
better than cure, it would have been much better if
the Meade of the doomed, when he threatened self-
, destruction, bad called in some persona who would
have relieved his distress, and him pointed to the
Saviour.
The Coroner, in summing up the evidence, said one
mild only regret more noties wee not taken of the
deceseed's threats, sod that NOM10114) was not ailed
In to help him In his bodily and mental distress.
The Jury returned • verdict of "Found Drowned,"
and gave their fees to the widow.