The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-24 00:00:00

The Fate of Sir Gilbert East.

(From the Hampshire Telegraph.)
The inquest on view of the body of the deceased was held
before Mr. F. Blake, coroner, at the Town Hall, Hyde, on
Tuesday afternoon.
Mr. John Henry James, the deceased baronet's solicitor,
was in attendance to watch the inquiry on behalf of Sir
Gilbert East's family.
The first witness examined was Mr. John East Hunter
Payton, of Wakehurst-place, Sussex, now residing at Sea-
view, Hyde, and he recognised the body as that of his uncle
Sir Gilbert East. He knew Sir Gilbert very well, and last
saw him alive in July. Witness also recognised a gold
guard and chain, with a finger ring and a pin, as a portion
of the deceased's property. Tho deceased was witness's
guardian, and from this obligation he had recently been
released.
Mr. John Lambert, steward of the Royal Victoria Yacht
Club, said ho remembered the deceased coming to the club
house on the evening of Saturday, the 13th inst., and leav-
ing again about 10 minutes to 1 o'clock the following morn-
ing. The deceased appeared to witness to be in good spirits,
and when ho left he was accompanied by two gentlemen.
He had only two glasses of brandy and water at the club
to witness's knowledge. When the deceased left it was very
dark, and it was raining.
Mr. G. Roe, of Dublin, also spoke to seeing the deceased
at the Royal Victoria Yacht club-house at 10 minutes to 1
o'clock on Sunday morning. Witness saw Sir Gilbert sign
articles to sail his yacht against another.
Mr. Alex. Barnard, jeweller, of Pier-terrace, Hyde, said
that Sir Gilbert and a woman came to his shop about a
quarter to 9 on the Saturday night, the deceased returning
again about 10 minutes to 1. The deceased hadbeen drink-
ing, but witness did not consider him ;very intoxicated.
He remained in the house about 20 minutes and then left.
During a conversation Sir Gilbert told witness that he had
just made a match between his yacht and another yacht.
Michael Collins was next examined—He deposed-1 am
a servant in the Hyde Pier Company's service. I knew
Sir Gilbert Ehst, and saw him pass through the tollgate
early on the Sunday morning. The deceased was not
sober,; and walked in rather a stupid manner, but as a
woman was with him who walked very steady, I thought
it quite safe for him to go on the pier. The woman had hold
of deceased's arm as long as I saw him. About 5 minutes
after that I heard a woman scream. I at once called Capt.
Crask, who was in my room, and we went together to
ascertain the cause. We came upon the woman about 250

feet from the gate. She was then screaming violently,
and said, "My husband's in the water. Save him ! Save
him ! Savo him !" In a minute or two afterwards I
heart! a voice in the water say " Save me ! Save me !" I
then ran down towards the end of the pier for assistance.
and not having been able to obtain it I returned again,
when I , saw two men belonging to the Caroline yacht
rowing by in a boat. I ran towards the end of the pier and
called to the men, and afterwards returned to the woman,
whom I still found screaming. I think she would have gone
over herself if I bad not held her. It was on the west side
of the pier from which the noise proceeded, and it was too
dark for me to see into the water, although it, was but a few
yards from me. There are some steps near where the woman
was standing, and there are also some railings; and if a per-
son wanted to go down the steps he would not have to open
any approach to them. I do not think a man would fall over
it if he fell against it. I know there are some seats along the
pier, but I do not know if there are any near that point. It
was high water that morning about a quarter-past 12,
and the depth of the water, as near as I could tell, would
be about Bft. or 9ft. in the place where I heard the noise
proceed from. I brought the woman to my room at the pier
gate, where she remained till about 4 o'clock, and a few
minutes after she left the room I found a pair of gloves
(produced) on the floor. The thumb of one of tho gloves
was separated from it, as it is now. There is a life-buoy at
the lower end of the pier, but when I ran for assistance I
was in such a hurry that the existence of the buoy did not
occur to me. The water was quite calm at the time.
The next witness was announced to be Miss Braham, and
the crowd in the hall at once directed their attention to a
fashionably-dressed person, apparently about 26 or 28 years
of age, who approached the table with an air of perfect in-
difference to the nature of the inquiry. As soon as she was
directed to a seat facing the Coroner she rather loudly ex-
claimed, "Well, here I am. What do you want with me ?"
Tho Coroner: If you will sit down quietly I will tell you.
I want you to take an oath. Witness : Take an oath !
Well ? Coroner : Yes. I want you to swear that you will
tell the truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you
Jehovah. Will you kiss the book ? Witness : I have kissed
the book, and now you must give me one second or so
to collect myself. Coroner : By all means. Witness was
then examined. She deposed—l have been acquainted
with the late Sir Gilbert East between eight and nine
years, and have lived with him during the whole of that
time, and have passed as his wife. I came with him to Rydo
during the present summer, and I was on board his yacht
with him. I do not know when it was, but it was the "proper
season," I expect. On Saturday evening, the 11th of August,
I came on shore with him between 8 and 9 o'clock. Wo
went together to Mr. Barnad's, and he left me there while
he went to the club. It was about five minutes to 9 o'clock

when he left me. He was not at that time, lam sorry to
say, quite sober. He returned to me at Mr. Barnad's at ten
minutes or a quarter to one, and ho was then not sober. He
had a glass of brandy and soda water at Mr. Barnad's, filled
his pipe, and appeared to be in very good spirits. Ho said
•he was pleased that he had entered his vessel and given a
cup for the match. I did not find fault with him for being
late. About ten minutes afterwards we left the house. It
was a dark night, and although it was raining neither of us
had an umbrella. I took his arm before 1 got to the pier
gate, and as the large gates were shut I released his arm
to go through the narrow gate. After we got through I
did not take his arm again. Coroner: Are you sure of
that? Witness: Yes. Coroner: Never afterwards?
Witness : Never. I am quite sure of that. I walked
rather fast, a little in front of him, down the pier. I said,
" I must walk on a little faster, as lam afraid 1 shall get
so wet," and he said he would follow me. That was all
that was said between us on the pier until I heard him slip.
Coroner : You had no quarrel or any words with him ?
Witness : No. Coroner : Nothing of the kind ? Witness :
No. I heard him walking behind me, as I knew his foot-
steps naturally. About two or three minutes after we got
on the pier I heard his foot slip, and I heard him cry out,
"Oh, oh !" I turned round and followed his voice, but I
could not soe any one. I ran to the spot from which I
supposed his voice proceeded, and I felt his hands clinging
against the woodwork of thepier, and he said " I am right !'
His body was then inside the railings. Coroner : Was he'
hanging from the outside ? -Witness : No. I am certain
his body was inside the pier. He said to me, "If you
don't let me go, you must come over ; I can swim." I kept
hold of him as long as 1 could; but I cannot say what part
of him it was, as I was so much excited. Coroner: At
the time he said "I am right," where was he ? Witness
(sharply) : How do I know ? He was swimming from me,
I suppose. I had previously heard him drop into the
water. Coroner : How long before that had you hold of
him ? Witness (again answering sharply): I don't know.
I can't tell. I did not see him drop into the water ; I
heard him. Coroner : How did he get on the outside of
the railings? Witness : Ho was not outside. Coroner :
Then, how did he fall ? Witness : Why, the same as any
other person, of course. In answer to other questions,
during which the witness appeared much excited, she ex-
plained that the deceased was on the side of the
railings facing the water, and therefore on the outside.
She continued : I don't remember how long it was after I
heard him slip that I saw him clinging to the rails. I
screamed for assistance after I heard him drop into the
water. I do not remember whether I saw him
when' I was close to the rails, and he was cling-
ing to me. Coroner : But you felt him ? Witness :
No ; I can't tell, and it's no use asking me.
Coroner : Did you struggle at all ; did you attempt
to save him ? Witness : Of course I did. Coroner : Did
he catch hold of your hand ? Witness : I can't tell whe-
ther he caught hold of mine, or I caught hold of his, but I
felt him. Coroner : Did you see the steps ? Witness : I
think ho thought his boat was at the steps. Coroner ?
But if he was clinging to the side of the pier how could he
slip down the steps ? Witness : I can't tell. That's as
much a mystery to me as it is to you. I expected to find
hisboat at the end of the pier, but we had not got half way
when I heard him slip down. The last words I heard
him say were, " Oh, Lina, what will you do ?" Coroner :
You never had hold of his arm after you got on the pier,
then ? Witness : No. Coroner : Was there any reason
for that ? Witness : No ; only that I thought I should
get wet, and wanted to walk fast. Foreman : Wal§ it

usual for you to go in front ? Witness :-No. Foreman :
Was he cheerful ? Witness : Yes. Foreman : Then why
did you not assist him down the pier? Witness: Lord
bless the man, how can I tell ? By a juror : When 1 had
hold of his hand I was not standing on the water-box,
but on the pier. Coroner : Are thoso your gloves ? Wit-

ness : I don't know. Coroner : What became of those you
wore that night ? Witness : Oh, yes, those are the same.
They were wet, and that is the reason the thumb came off.
In answer to a juror, witness said—l heard him swim after
ho fell into the water. Coroner : Had you passed the

steps when you heard him slip ? Witness : No. A juror :
Have you ever heard him threaten to commit suicide?

Witness : Never. I never heard of such a ridiculous thing.

By Mr. James : Sir Gilbert had only two glasses of "very

nearly neat" brandy before ho left the yacht.
The jury retired, and after a short consultation, an-
nounced that they were agreed that the deceased was
drowned, but there was no evidence to show how ho came
into the water.

Coroner—Do you mean to say he was found drowned,
or that on this particular day ho was drowned ? Of course,
the verdict is yours ; but upon that will depend the man-

manner in which it is framed.
The Foreman-=-We believe that he was drowned.
A verdict to that effect was accordingly returned.