The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1884-10-17 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

SAD CASE OF DROWNING AT TAIBACH.  THE INQUEST.  On Saturday night, a man named William Brown, labourer, met his death by drowning in the float. The deceased who was only 29 years of age, lived at Brickyard cottages, and after spending an hour or two with some seafaring friends, went with them a part of the distance towards their vessels, when he deliberately walked into the water and getting out of his depth, his companions were unable to rescue him. The facts of the case were detailed at THE INQUEST, Held on Monday, at the Police-station, Taibach, before Mr Howell Cuthberston (coroner), and a jury, of which Mr John Brinton, was foreman. Philip Kneath deposed that the deceased and two sea captains, named Joy and Dobson, left with witness, the Port Talbot-inn, on Saturday night. Witness and deceased accompanied the captains on their way to their vessels which were lying at Taibach. As they were going to part, Brown walked from the middle of the track into the float. Captain Joe called out, "Good God, man, where are you going?" Witness jumped in after the deceased, but found that deceased had gone beyond his depth, and was sinking. He was unable to rescue him, and he got out of the water and run to the look gates for the grappling-iron which was hung outside the gate. When he got back (in about twenty minutes), the man was drowned, and they got the body out of the water. Captain Dobson, of the "Catherine," was called, and said that at a quarter to eleven on Saturday night, he left the inn with deceased and the others named. While going up the road they stopped and talked on the middle of the footway, when, without any warning Brown started off, and walked direct into the float. He called out to him as soon as he got to the water, "Good God, where are you going to Kneath then jumped into the water, but failed to get deceased out; failed to lay hold of the deceased who had gone out of his depth. Kneath then ran for the gappler, and they stayed near the spot, and assisted in getting deceased out.  .... The wife of the deceased said that her husband had come home on Saturday evening, and assisted in domestic matters. He left the house about eight o'clock, saying he was going to the Talbot-inn, and was then quite well and seemed in good spirits. About half-*.et ten she went there for supper beer. She saw her husband, he was then apparently quite sober; asked=him to come home; he said he would follow directly. She then went home, and hesrd nothing more until Kneath came and told her that her husband was in the float. If she had seen that her husband was not sober, she would have waited or him, and took him home with her. He came from London about nine years ago, and then was suffering from a sun stroke. At different times he had complained of pains in his head. He was brought home about a fortnight previously, from the works, and then complah,ed of his head. He the', received medical treatment. . „  Captain Joy, of the " Eliza," gave corroborative evidence. The jury returned a verdict "That decoased committed suicide while in a etate of temporary insanity."