The Cotton Factory Times. — 1905-12-22 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

PATHETIC LETTER.  OPEN VERDICT.  The Bardsley Canal last week end claimed yet another victim. On Monday morning Joseph Mellor. the leekkeeper at Woodhouses, saw a dark object floating on the water near Woodbonses Locks. With SOOOO difficulty he pulled it out, and the police were called for. Ultimately the body was identified as that of Peter Dale (34), of 10, Troughgate, Hollins, Hollinwood, a piecer in a Cbadderton cotton mill. It appears that the unfortunate man left borne on the 17th of November, biddOeg his wife "Good morning," and apparently going tells work. At night, however, he did not return, and a few days later his wife received a letter from him. The wife knew no reason why he should destroy himself. The body had the appearance of having been in the water for several days. THE INQUEST was held on Wednesday afternoon at the Dog and Pheasant Inn by Mr. J. F. Price, district coroner. Mr. G. H. Newton was foreman of the jury. Lillian Dale, wife of deceased, gave evidence of identification, and said when her husband left she did not hear of him until the 23rd of November, when she received the following letter:— "Dear wife and children,--I have done my best for you, and I cannot bear to make you any poorer. I cannot get on in life. Every-thing seems against me. You have always been a good wife to me, and a good mother to the children. So now good-bye. May we all meet in heaven."  Witness, continuing, said her husband was doing very nicely as a pieoer, making a guinea a week, and never threatened to commit suicide at any time. From the time he went away to the time he was found she made every enquiry she could as to his whereabouts. He was never strange in his manner, and was only dissatisfied because he could not be a minder and get more money. Joseph Mellor, lockkeeper at Waterbouses Locks. on the Hollinwood branch of the Manchester and Ashton Canal, described how he found the body on Monday morning. He was in the yard, he said, when he saw an object in the water. He went nearer, and, seeing a head, came to the conclusion that it was a dead body. He recovered it with the grappling irons. It was fully dressed, and appeared to have been in the water for sometime.  Constable Ernest Pollard said be was informed that a body had been found in the canal about a quarter to ten on Monday, in consequence of which he went near Woodhouses look. On the back he saw the body, and removed it to the Dog and Pheasant. He exinniaed the clothing, and found two pocket-knives, a red handkerchief, a small prayer book, a small iron hook, and a key. There was no money on him. The body was decomposing, and there were no marks of injury. The Coroner remarked that he had no doubt in his own mind that it was a case of suicide, but the jury could, if they preferred, return an open verdict. An open verdict was returned.  " Now," said the clairvoyant to her group of visitors, "I will describe a person known and loved by everybody in this room. The person has the characteristic of always being in a hurry and always being delayed. Will ran thirty or forty yards for a .waiting omnibus, and then stop and wait for the next one. Generally stands on the wrong side of the crossing, and is invariably unable to find change. Does anyone recognise this person ?" And every man in the room got up and shouted "It h my wife."  Your infant Will Thrive:  NEAVE'S FOOD is a PERFECTLY SAFE FOOD for the most delicate child if used according to instructions. It assists teething, is - a valuable bone-former, relieves constipation, and is a complete diet for Infants.