The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-05-10 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.

An inquest was held yesterday (Monday) at 2 I
o'clock, before Mr. Symonds, coroner, at the National j
School-room, Fordington, on the body of Thomas
Mutford, aged 49, marine-store dealer, Mill-street. I
The jury having been sworn and having viewed the
body, the first witness examined was
Mr. William Ilanfield, who said: I left Dorchester
about half-past 6 on Saturday evening in company
with Mr. Robert Oakley, to go fishing in the Froomc.
I began fishing in the Ten Hatch weir, Fordington
meadow; and fished up the stream as far as Mr.
Mayo's preserve hatches. I fished the weir hole
near Mr. Sansom's cottage hatches, for about a quarter ,
of an hour. The weir hole is in Trinity parish. I
saw something dark-coloured during that time near
the centre of the stream, perhaps 5 feet from the
opposite bank; but I did not go near enough to see
what it was, for fear of disturbing the fish. It looked
like a log of wood, and wasa little above the water. It
was raining fast and some fish rose some 2 feet from the
substance in the stream. [shortly afterwards crossed
' the stream, and had not been there many minutes
; before I thought I saw the outline of a man under
water. I called Oakley to conic and look. He ran
; down, and said he thought it looked like a man. I
replied: "We must get some help, and get it out
as quickly as possible"—which we did almost im-
mediately. I called to a man in the field, driving
cattle, to come, and be sent a man who was with
him. Five or six persons within bearing came, and ;
;we got the body out. In a short time I recog-
nized the deceased as hlutford. No one knew him
at first. In his pocket was a letter bearing his name.
I thought from his rigidity that he had been in the
water some hours. We could find no warmth. He
was immediately removed home. It was not more
than two minutes from the time of my supposing
, that what I saw in the water was a man and our
getting him out. Deceased was lifted out by means
of a pick. Where the body was seemed to be about
9 feet deep. He was nearly upright, and we could
j see only the back of the necktie. His feet did not
I touch the bottom. Nothing but his hat was missing.
; The water was discoloured with rain. -

Dr. J. P. Aldridge said: I was sent for about 7
o'clock Saturday evening to see the deceased. I went
to his house and found him placed before a large fire,
and Mr. Emson, who had just arrived, employed in
trying to produce artificial respiration. and rubbing
the body to promote animal heat. I &misted him.
and used every means we could devise to restore ant.
mation. These means were continued 2 hours, but
we found them futile, and that life was quite extinct.
Drowning was the immediate cause of death. For
some months past he has been subject to epileptic
attacks; and that morning he had a return of one of
those attacks, which lasted for some considerable
time. This left, as is usual, a morbid state of despond•
ency, and destruction of the moral tone,the influence
of which lasted some time. I have before noticed
that after one of these attacks several days have
elapsed ere the mind recovered its usual tone; and
I have urged upon him the necessity of abstaining
from everything likely to promote such attacks;
which attacks, I believe, were caused by irregular
habits, and the use of stimulants. The body had
evidently been some hours in the water. I saw him
on Thursday.
George hludford, son of deceased, said: My father
dined at home on Satunlay between one and two.
He left home about a quarter before two, going down
the street towards the mill. I never saw him alive
after. At dinner time be did not appear well, say-
ing he was bad in his head, and his hands began to
move as if about to have another fit. Mother called
in. at ten minutes to six in the morning; and I
wondered to see my father not up, but lying with
his mouth open • but on going down my mother
called me up directly and I found him rigid in every
limb. I left him at a quarter to seven, when I
went to work, and then be had not recovered. He
hail a similar fit on Thursday. lie used to cry out
that his brains were turned before falling into a fit.
For six or eight months lie has been subject to these
attacks. At breakfast time on Saturday he said he
was a little better, and was sitting in a chair. He
went for a walk at a quarter to nine. At dinner
time he sucked an egg while standing, and then sat
down and drank two cups of tea. He said nothing
about going to Burton. I don't think he had hardly
a drop of drink from Wednesday.
George Lester deposed: I was with deceased 04
Saturday morning about 9 o'clock. He came into
my house. He looked pale and I asked him how he
was. He replied, "I'm very poorly. It's all in my
head. I'm a dead man." "Nonsense," I said "You're
worth A thousand dead ones yet." He said he had
had a tit that morning. I told him to go for a walk
as far as Gray's bridge. He went out, but came back
very soon, and again sat down. He said, "DO you
think aging' of porter would hurt me r I said " 1
do'nt think it would," and he went to Gulliver's
public-house. On returning he said he was much re-
vived. He went a second time to go to Gray's bridge
and returned. We had a long chat together. 1 re-
commended him to take a long walk over the bill,
along Slyer's lane, and back by the watenuan's house.
and
hßiutwhiefewheandt
dhraomwen,
wiagMtighrniullarnmiwe:fivoedifiarrohlgoiviihmtedteet
pint of
falling, idou:f started oyHhanfameffeduietedFosaihaffiw:gdnoeel
buneeealheocienititaggntondangnb,vdeeebreittl tc:hanbefedt
an
eetbHoreizodachßoowOhunakhrkga.
quickly recovered. We continued towards Bock-
hampton and at the first wicket he said "I can't go
no further. I shall fall down." We retraced our
steps. I left him at my door going towards his
house. Imw him no more. It was near one o'clock
when we parted. I know the place where the body
was found. There is a path about 4 yards from
and no fence between it and the water.

The Coroner, in stun- -m-in-g sat- 7-ci there were two
points for the jury to consider-whether deceased
wag drowned by intention, or by accident. Deceased
might have staggered backward, asst the oommence-

ment of a fit, from the path into the water, if it
was thought the drowning was by design, that his
despondency returned upon him, the jury must con-
sider the state of the deceased's mind. If doubt
existed on either of them points an open verdict
might be found.
The jury, however, after deliberating for some
time determined to o in a body to see the palm
whence the deceased was taken from the water.
On their return they gave in a verdict of 'Found
Drowned."