Morning journal and courier., 1883-05-23
Drowning Case.
Results OF the Investigation I'm North Ea-
ven The Testimony Hen rd-Cfrcu M
stances of the Death of William H.

Results OF the investigation i'm North Ha-
ven - The Testimony Heard-Cfrcum M
stances of the Death of William H.
Thomas.
At a meeting of the grand jurors of the
town of North Haven held in Robinson's
Hall on May 10, 1888, to investigate the cir
cumstances of the drowning of William 81.
Thomas; present, F. Hayden Todd, Horace
L. Hills and Julian W. Futile. The evil
dence introduced was as follows:
Michael Benter, aged II years: Live with
John Hoad1ey. Was at fishing place at Red
Bank May 10. 1883, in the evening. 1t was
Hoadley's turn to fish. I went up the bank
of the river to hold the light SO that the man
could see to jump into the water. Thomas
had on boots and heavy coat. I saw
him jump out to carry the shore end. I
heard Mr.. Brockett say, Now jump Thomas"
He took his pole and jumped and slipped in.
He had the rope. He did not speak a word.
said Come back here, the man is drowning
They came back in the boat quick
They fshed for him and put out pole for
him. I was on the shore, they were six or
eight feet from me. He came up six or
eight feet outside the boat. I saw Mr.. Uhl
try to grab him. Mr.. Brockett said: 'Iet US
pull the net to see if we can get him." They
did just as they always did, they went by
the stakes They got q few shad. They
came ashore and rolled up the net, then went
to Lucius Breckett's and got creepers and
dshed for him about an hour and half.
Mr.. Robinson says: eve must give it up till
morning. We will come down about three
or four o'clock and look for him."
John Hoadley called 70 years old.
Thomas went to fish for me. I heard
them say az jump The boy Bsnte n. says he is
back" They came right back I have car
ried the shore end for 20 years. was south
of the creek. I could not see. I said, 'tHaul
the seine" Robinson got out. Can't say
how they did draw the net. They caught
few shad. They fished for Thomas about an
hour. They hauled the net only once.
Nothing was said to me about being there to
hslp Thomas. I came there of my own free
will. gave Thomas half for fishing.
Didn't tell Brockett I would help Thomas
carry the shore end. Think the water is
hear the question asked, "Can anyone
swim ?? Think Thomas fshed there two or
three times last season, but never carried the
shore end before.
Caleb Culver called II years old.
We were all In the boat together. Mr..
Hoadley said he would see to Thomas and
help him carry the shore end. Mr.. Uhl said
he would not fish with new beginner. I
spoke to Hoedley about it and he agreed to
help carry the shore end We had at least
one oar and two poles in the boat. We were
about three rods from the shore when the
boy called to US. We backed up to the shore.
We didn't grab for him but once. We drew
| the net the same as we do for shad. We
| were there three hours searching for him.
We didn't feel for him with an oar.
John A. Uhl called: A years old. was in
| the bow of the boat. I didn't want to fish
| with Thomas because he didn't know how to
| fish Mr. Hoadley said he would see to the
/ Rh0 and md n0k ont a
his boots full of water while setting the
| standing net He fell on the bank and
| slipped back. Saw him splash with his
hands. We came back. He was eight or ten
| feet from the bank when he came up the
| first time. Brockett said, 81 can't swim. -
but very little. The hole there is in my
opinion thirty feet wide, sixty five or seventy
| feet long and about eight or ten
feet deep. I agreed to go with
the others and look for the body in the
| morning. Saw Brockett go down in the
| morning with the other gang, but did not go
myself until Justice Eaton called for me. The
boat was near shore when Thomas jumped.
| Can't say how near. Think he didn't jump
soon enough.
John HoadIey recalled-Think Thomas
| fshed there once or twice last season. Think
Washington and his wife came down to the
| river before we sent to Brockett's after the
creepers. After we stopped searching for
| the body requested Washington to notify
Mrs. Thomas and he did So / told Mr.. Uhl
I would do all could to help Thomas carry
the shore end.
We had no objection to fishing with
Thomas because he was co1ored man.
We came back with the boat as soon as
we found that the man was drowning.
made grab for him. I do not like
to 60 into the water on account of my
I hVIt
Brockett said, If I could swim I would
dive for him." He didnt ask anyone else
to dive. Mr.. Hoadley said, 81 will be up
| there with a lantern to assist Thomas. -
The boy was there. We agreed to come
the next morning and look for the body.
sSiug had oa sgia tae a R %RRie IN
the act of drawing the net for the
body. From the time he (Thomas) jumped
from the boat until we saw him the last
time, it was about fifteen minutes. Cannot
tell exactly when Mrs. Thomas was notified.
When was getting my horse to go home
heard her crying because her husband was
dead.
Luzerne A. Brockett called 80 years old.
Thomas was. to fish fer Mr.. Hoadley. Saw
Thomas jump. I thought he could swim.
Mr.. Hoadley agreed to have light for
Thomas. He sent Butler with the lantern.
Butler did not go up the bank as far into a
rod as he should have gone. Had no objec-
ton to fishing with Thomas on account of
| his color. Saw him come up twice. Think
! he came up once before we got back to him.
We put out an oar to him. Robinson put
| the oar under the canoe and said / feel
him. We put out the net and
drew for. the body. sat in my
wagon in front of Thomas house and saw
Washington and wife go to the house as Mr..
Hoadley requested. Never told anybody
that would give the niger good ducking.
The grand jurors, having heard the evil
| dence and examined the fishing grounds, find
that the place where Thomas was drowned
| was dangerous place for man unacquaint-
ed with the river to jump from moving
boat especially in the night season; that
Thomas had not fshed there before this sea-
son that he had f1shed there only once last
season and never carried the shore end be-
| fore. There is no evidence that Thomas
knew the depth of the water at this place.
Mr.. Hoadley had agreed to be there with
lantern and assist Thomas, but instead sent
the boy Benter, who was wholly unacquaint-
ed with the shore. We find that if the man
who carries the shore end did not leave the
boat until it has passed the creek, it would
have been impossible for such an accident to
have occurred
F. Hayden Todd, Horace l.. Hills, Julian W.
Tuttle, Grand Jurors of the Town of
North Haven.
Dated at North Haven May 10th, 1888.
Personal.
Miss Annie Louise Cowles, daughter of the
late Chandler Gou1ac Of KIic xrou Was