Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1882-09-02 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

FOUND DROWNED.  An inquest was held at the George Inn, on Monday evening, before Mr. 3. M. Jennings, East-Riding coroner, touching the death of Wm. Henry Green, aged 26 years, whose body was found floating on the south side of the south pier on Sunday morning. The body having been viewed, and the jury sworn, the following evidence was given.—Thos. James Green said he was the brother of the deceased. Deceased was 26 years of age, and was an engine-fireman in the employ of the London and North-Western Railway Company, and resided at Manchester. The last time he saw him 1.79•8 two months ago. Deceased left home on the 6th of August. Witness did not know his obj.sit in leaving home. He was in a bad state of health. He was suffering from nervous debility. He had been attended bye doctor. He had means of living.—Mrs. Elizabeth Smith said on the previous Tuesday night her husband, who was coming home from fishing, picked the deceased up on the pier steps. He was very much the worse for drink, and her husband brought him home with him. Deceased I said he had been at Scarborough and had lost I his watch and his money. It was a very wet and stormy night, and she let him sleep on the sofa, and gave him some breakfest the next Imorning. He gave her his name as William Sidling. Witness assisted as cook at the ' Stirling Castle Inn, and during Wednesday she saw the deceased there. He asked her if she could provide him with a bed until he received some money. She said she would, and the deceased slept at her house on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday night he did not come in, and on Saturday morning she saw him talking to the ostler at the Stirling Castle. When she asked him where he had been the previous night, he said he had been walking about all night. She told him he should not have done so, as she had sat up waiting of him. He asked her if she would give him some breakfast, and witness said she would, and she got him some breakfast, and boiled him an egg. When he had eaten his breakfast he laid on the couch to rest. On Saturday evening he was .at in the house, and got up to go out, but it was raining, and she said he had better sit down again, and got him some books to read. Deceased thanked her and said "I shall never get out of your debt." Witness said "Never mind, sit down. I shall, perhaps, want some help some day." Witness then went out, and on returning later, the deceased had gone out. As he did not return at 11 p.m., she sent her boy down the street to look for him, but he could not find him. Witness did not see him eosin alive.—Geo. Shosal, fisherman, said, on tturday nigbt, he was on board his vessel, and between 11-30 and 12, he saw a man running down to the south pier. The man was sober. Thinking something was the matter he watched him. When he got on to the pier, and near a coal schooner, he got on to the parapet and looked over. He then got down and looked over the other side, and looked about him. He , then went on board the coal schooner, and went 1 into the galley. Witness then went and told his captain what had occurred, who said he had better see what he wanted. Witness then went to the deceased and asked him what he wanted there. He replied that he only wanted to stay there until the morning, and he returned to his own vessel. As he was going away, demised called out to him, and asked him if he was up about five next morning if he would "give him a call." Witness did not wake next morning. until seven, and, consequently, did not call the deaeased.—Richard Crawford, fishermen, said, whilst on the pier on Sunday morning, he saw the deceased's body floating on the water, on the south side of the south pier. It was about 8-80 , when he saw it. There were no marks of I violence on him.—ln answer to the Coroner, the witness Thos. James Green said he had no reason to believe his brother had committed . Isuicide, and he did not think he had done so.— The Coroner pointed out to the jury that there I was no evidence before them to show that deceased contemplated committing suicide, nor were there any marks of violence to make them , suppose there had been foul play. As the deceased's brother had told them, he had never mentioned committing suicide, and the jury, he thought, could only return an open verdict. —The jury returned a verdict of " Found drowned." _  At the conclusion of the inquest, Mr. Wm. Taylor, Bridlington, moved a vote of condolence with the family of the late Mr. Wigmore, Deputy-Coroner. Most of the jury, he thought, had come in contact with the late deputy. coroner, and they would agree with him when he said that Mx. Wigmore had always earnestly and conscientiously endeavoured to discharge the duties of his public office, and that they deeply sympatbieed with Mrs. Wigmore and the family in the lose they had sustained.—Mr. W. Dobson seconded the motion, and said he fully endorsed the remarks of Mr. Taylor. The motion having been unanimous* agreed to— Mr. Jennings, the coroner, said he would take care to convey their expressions of sympathy to the family of the late Mr. Wigmore. In the death of that gentleman, he (Mr. Jennings) had not only lost the services of an able and painstaking deputy-coroner, but a valued friend. Daring a friendship of 36 yew, there had never been an unpleasant word between them, and he thought that no one who had come in contact with Mr. Wigmore, either publicly or privately, could have done otherwise than deeply respect him. Mr. Wigmore had striven all his life to earnestly, carefully, and honestly, discharge his duties, whether as deputy-coroner or in any other capacity, and his death was deeply lamented.  A