The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-09-02 00:00:00

THE INQUEST ON RENFORTH.

Some particulars ef the inquest held on Thursday
upon the body of .James Renforth, the champion oars-
man, have been received from St. John, New llnms-
wick, by Atlantic cable. According to the evidence
of the special reporter of the Newaiille y Omni
who sends the message to that paper, Renforth's
general health appeared to have been good before he
started in the race. Renforth breakfasted with his
mates shortly after six o'clock on Wednesday, aml
he was then in excellent spirits. Witness desired
Robert Liddell, of Pittsburg, and three other
friends, to accompany Renforth to his boat.
They did 911, and never lost sight of him till he
entered the boathouse. With the view of re-
porting the race, witness followed the boats on the
water, marked the sudden change in Itenforth after
he hail rowed about 200 yards, saw him first sway
from side to sole in the boat, then fall backward upon
Kelley, and be rowed to Appleby's Wharf by Cham-
bers and Percy. lie saw him lifted from the boat to
the carriage, went with him in the conveyance to
Claremont House, and stood bybis bedside till he
Witness was forcibly struck with Renforth's stiff and
livid appearance when he was landed from the boat.
Ile was quite unconscious at first, hut when in the
carriage be revived a little. The only words he uttered
after I saw him were, " It's nit a tit I have hail. I
will tell you all about it directly.- As far as witness
W 3.4 capable of forming an Melon, he thought lten-
forth died from natural causes.

Harry Kelley was called. He corroborated the
evidence, and said when Renforth entered the boat he
WAS quite well. He did not exert himself more than
usual at the beginning of a rare. When they hail
rowed between 200 and 300 yards he suddenly faltered,
but rowed gamely on for about the same slistanee
further, and then dropped his oar, falling back at the
same time into his (witness's) arms, saying, "Harry, I
have hail soznething" —meaning something hash been
given to him. He (Kelly) WM of opinion that Renforth
undoubtedly believed he hail been tampered with.
But he (witness.) had no reason to think this except
from the words.Renforth uttered.
_

Richard Liddell, of Pittaburg,—deposed to having at-
tended Renforth fran his training luarters to the
boat-house, and said that AS far as be knew no one
communicated with him during that time. He never
lost sight of Renforth in his pasaage from one house to
the other. Nothing that he saw was given to him
before he went into the house to prepare for the race.
James Percy deposed to having taken his breakfast
along with Renforth and the other members of the

crew on Wednexday morning. They all ate of the
same 1'4,4, and as far as he (Percy) knew there were no
gcouw,h, ter believing there was foul play. lie (witness)
did not -• eet it. Ile was certain Itenforth was not
over-,- • hint,-1 fat the time be was suddenly taken
• , •• ' I , 1 I'erey's evidence, said
there w t',••- ace,stnt ft Pen
fitt We: Itatli - k I. • The N • •
was strongly again,t LI. , •
lsider nntst be 'mini,'
upon adjonencd. 'CI • • • '
Itenforthis death o , • • • • .•
in I 'attada UN in
exhibited townrds the ' . ' •
of it. John. I:thh:eth', .