The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1875-11-09 00:00:00

TIIF. DR9Ay.NER_WA.TEII.II.IIN.

An inquest was held on Tuesday afternoon. at the
%satin Inn, on the body of Thomas geward, the waternian
who was drownwl in the !toads. . . .

Mr. J. Patten wail choaen foreman, and the met of the
jury were Messrs. Hlijah Flew, Henry Attwooll, Biome
Moore, [Ober' Hirrewell, It. Dryer, G. Perry, W. [Atty.
H. Winter, IL Hiumford, It. Score, E. 'Quiben, and C.
Mitchell. .

Some of the jury were sworn ins the Bo
Prayer; but as it contained the Gospels the Coroner
explained that the oath was perfectly binding.
William Seward. mariner and boatman, residing at
Chiswell, And brother to decsmed, said deceased was
last birthday, and resided at eastletown. Ho served his
time at sea, had been hone about IS years, fishing, and
out in a hoot, suit witness conniered him an experienced
sill-,r. Last saw I " alive on Monday, shoot half-past
eleven in the morning Hews, Skin quite well. lie was
taken out of a ship's boat this morning about half-past
eight, the man saying they hail pick d up the hody float-
ing near their vessel. Observed his clothes, and it
appeared as if he hail stood up in the boat for a necesmry
purpose ,and tumbled over.
John Thomas, • Welshman, sailor on hoard the Evelina
schooner, lying in Portland RoIMIS, shout a quarter-past
eight thpi morning, observed • Imly floating near the
ver.a. X..l4itl.,;J•Rtain and he ordered them to take
the boat. 'Wittigsswilli fbi, 'Joni inbnt to the iasly, and
towed it ashore. It was than In We sikluo state Ist klie*
I seen by the last witness; they had not dune anything M
,
It but slip a tow-rope over it.
I Henry Putt, coastguardsman, said on Monday evening,
about eleven at night, lie helped deceased shove the boat
down over the beach, and saw deceased get into the boat,
with two seamen belonging to the Warrior, for the purpose
of taking them on board. The boa was quite big enough,
being about lift. long. The weath. had been bad; but at
this time the wind hail ceased, and theme had gone down,
so that it was quite safe to go off. Deceased had gone off
twice before that evening. Considered him quite capable
of taking chorge rf! a heat.
The Coroner: I Wish you and every officer here to
understand that if you seas noo3 incapable from liquor or
otherwise, of taking charge of a boat, you ought to take it
upon yourself to stop him, as much as you would if you
saw him taking poison,
lb' a Juryman : I could see about 150 yards off from
the shore, the moon had get up and it became lighter. I
should think they could see as far, from the ship to the
shore.
_ . . . . .

......
John Oakley, stoker, on board the Warrior, said thst on
Monday the 19th, the deceased took him and Witlinen
Atnuatall otT to ths Warrior. in his boat alma 11 o'clock.
It was quite safe to go, and dressed h.al had a glau to
drink; but was quite capable of taking them off. De-
ceased milled the foremost oar, and witness the after one,
and they were landed safe on board. Deceased had not
let go the manrope when Use others went over the gang-
way. It was light enough to see the ship from the shore.
My the Jury: Could not say why deceased held on to
;he rope. After they were over the gangway he did not
see anything of damaged. He would have to shift the
oars to row back. The wind was fair to come heck from
the Breakwater to the shore. . .

Wllliam Stonetsil corrolxuated the evidence of last
witness.
Thomas Shepherd, the quartermaster, said on Monday,
the 19th, he was on duty on the upper dock, between II
end 2. lie was in charge of the deck, and had to see all
who 'came alongside or who left. Deceased and two men
came alingsi4e, ithqut half.past eleven. They got out of
the boat, end after the men had Oil hint he shifted
himself athwart further an, and left the shflp. Saw the
boat about Ital yards clear of her. lie appeared quite
capable of managing the boat ; it had been • dirty even.
in. but when he came alongside there was a lulls and it
was calm enough for the boat to come ashore till after
twelve.
. .

fly the Jury: There was a little motion of the water.—
Deceased was not on hoard the chip at all. He seemed to
be pulling toward the Ferry Bridge.
Some of the jury salmi thin woe out of deceased'. course.
Witness could not tell that a man was actually in the
boat tlUjwle off. Did not hear any cry of C wan over-
board. Haw the man pull clear of the ship.
Toe Coroner, in his address to tlie Jury, seised the
opportunity to point out that great responeibility mute on
thok who bold themselves out to convey persons by
water. In a late Ikvonshire case, a person who was not a
aterman, but who undertook to convey some persons,
was held responsible when an accident occurred, and was
sent for nine months for manslaughter. So the Coroner
' inirmesel upon MI watermen and others the great import-
ance ot theil being perfectly At and able, when they
rin.ebed passengers, to moray them with misty. In this
roe, however, the fack Seemed to aholy that It was a case
of pure accident
The Jury returned a verdict of " Accidental Deathf
Mr. H. Edwards. M.P. for Weymouth, on being applied
to, madly ,aot a sovereign for the widow of decanted.