Daily Republican., 1882-05-15
TnE DROWNED MAN.
The COrOner's Inquest Last satur.
day Nlght-VeFdict OF the Jury.

An adjourned inquest was held o.
Saturday evening at the mOrgue, 90
Shipley street, to investigate the caus
of the death of James A. Cole, who's
body was found floating in the Christi
ana river last Thursday afternoon. Mr.
Cole, 1t will he remen bered, disap
peared from his home in this city OF
May 4th, and although the most dill.
gent search was made there was NJ
tidings Of his whereabouts until hi.
body was found, which was subsequent
lY identified as that of the missing
man. The jury was sworn in on Friday
and after viewing the remains ad
journed until Thursday evening tc
hear the testimony of the witnesses.
Thomas Birctal testified that he has
charge Of the yard at the Pulp Works,
and James A. Cole came to work at
that place on the Sth of last August.
About two weeks before the 4th of May
he remarked. az will disappear very
suddenly one OF these days." when the
witness answered that he hoped not, as
he did not know what they would do
without hiT.
About week after that conversation
he asked IT he could be espared that day,
as he did not feel like working. Upon
being told that he could, he sCarted off
towards Folly woods, and stay ed away
Until toward evening, when he returned
and said that he had thought of going
to Philadelphia, but changed his mind.
He see med very much worried about q
law suit in which he was interested,
and while he did not act very much
like an insane Ian, he seemed very
much troubled in his mind. The last
time the witness saw him alive was
about half past six o'clock on the even
Ing OF the 4th of this month, when he
left the works to 60 home. One of the
men saw him over small bridge that
he had to cross, and he had no occasion
TO Cross the railroad bridge, As 1t was
out OF his way to do 80. He was a
quiet and peaceable man, and strictly
The witness said that 1t
was his impression that he had some
trouble that greatly affected his mind.
George w. Wigglesworth is the bridge
;ender for the Delaware Western Rail
'oad, and on last Thursday afternoon
le saw corpse floating down the
,reek. The witness could not leave the
bridge just at that time, as he was ex-
,ecting train. The New York packet
lad just passed along, and as the water
vas quite shallow he thought that it
lad caused the body to come up out OF
he mud. Saw some men trying to get
he body, and as soon as possible went
o their assistance and helped to make
t fast with line, where it remained
Until the Coroner and Mr.. Palmer came
nd took it away; did not know the
nan. Witness thought that he might |
ave fallen Oft the end of the bridge, |
nd ii he did he would have been very |
likely to stick in the mud.
Michael Mcdonnell testified to seeing !
he body in the creek close to the
team boat John A. Warner. He tried
0 hold it with piece of stick, but only
ucceeded in pushing it under the
uard of the boat. The witness then
OF boat hook and held on to the body
ntil Wigglesworth came.
Joseph Haney corroborated the testi.
lony Of tljs witness, and Undertaken
'almer stated that when he washed
he body he carefully examined 1t, but
ould not find any marks or bruises
lat would indicate that there had been
,ul play.
The jury after q short consultation
sndered verdict that "The said
ames A. Cole came to his death from
rowning In the Christiana river"