Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1888-09-15 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE QUESTION OF THE PAYMENT OF JURORS.  The district coroner, Mr. F. Price, held an inquest at the Loommitive Hotel, Ashton Old-road, on Satur• day afternoon, respecting the death of a man unknown, whom body was taken out of the Stockport Broadn of the Man:heater and A.sliton Canal, early on Friday morning. The evidence was as follows : Homy Tom Orchard said I live at the Look House, Clayton-lane, and am a labourer. About half. past six yenterday morning a man named Emanuel Unwiti, a labourer on the Canal bank, came to me at the boatyard near the Gorton Tank, Openalaaw, and raid there was a body in the sand opposite the Issail Board war In. I took a boat shaft, and we went to the spot, opposite the Local Board yard, about 150 yards from Opeusl“w Bridge. We found the body that is now lying dead at this house, in the water. We got the body on the canal bank, and I then went and gave information to. the Openshaw Police Station. I should think the body had been in the water two or three days. Ido not know the deceased, nor when, nor how he came into the water. I should think he is 55 or 60 years of age. Sergeant James Whittaker said : From information , I received from the Last witness I went to the canal bank 11.1' 01.m:haw Bridge. It is the Ashton Branch of the Manchester and Stockport Canal. I found on the canal Inuit, about 150 yards from the canal bridge the Way of the man now lying at this house, anal I found on him a tailor'o old tape anal a piece of amp, but no papers I think he is a tramp. There is a bruise on the left eye. I fancy lie has been in the water three or four days. All inquiries have been made, but we have received no information unto anyone being missing. The Coroner That is all the evidence, gentlemen, Your venliet will be the usual one of "Found drow•ied" I suppose. There is nothing to show how the matt 1,13,3 in, whether by accident, or whether he baa Lanimnitted suicide, or how. The jury coincided, anal at once returned a verdict of "Found drowned." Before the Coroner left the moan, Mr. W. H. Gilbert, one of the jurymen, said there was one little matter he would like to bring under the notice of the Coroner. He thought they, as jurymen, should have a.. 111.3 slight remauponse for attending inquiries of that nature. The Coroner : Where is the money to come from, tein you suggest? Mr. Gilbert said he would suggest that s bill be introduced in Parliament for the payment of jurors. The Coroner said the best courBe would be for them to get their mender, Mr. Peauock, to introduce such a bill. If they liked they might talk the matter over, and appoint a deputation to wait upon Mr. Peacock. Ho (Mr. rdee), hint the printed form of a bill that was introduced into the Hsu,. of COMllllald many years ago for the payanent of jurors, but he thought it never got any further than the find refuting. He would be quite willing tan furnish Mr. Peacock, or any other member of Parliament, with a copy of that bill, if lie desired it. Mr. Gilbert said lie wan sure the jury would very willingly agree to the coroner's suggestion. It was is very great inconvenience to some of them to have to atteial thee inquesta. To 11;113, being Saturday, it was very inconvenient to attend just at that heir. He hall offered a shillitig to anyone who would take his !dace, but he could nut final at substitute. He had not brought this matter before the wroner's notice sailninly oni his own amount, hut because he knew this thing want a general ground of COMplaillt—(hear, hear). Mr. Fothergill, another juryman, asked how it was that jurymen in Cheshire were paid for their servirwa, whilst jurymen in Lancashire were not. Ile had received the shillang himself in Northwich. The Coroner said he knew that jurymen in Cheshire were paid a shilling each. The money ante from the revenues of the River Weave,- Trust, he believed , but bow lie did not know. Mr. Gilbert said there was another thing he thought should be done, that was, when an officer was aummoning a jury lie should have a book, and give to each , juryman a slip on which was written the name of the house and hour at which the inquiry would Oe held. it wan very easy for a Mall to make a mistake as to the time under the present system of summoning , jurymen. The Coroner said the county authorities did not supply the police with forms for that purpose. In some places the police were supplied with printed forme by the authorities. Mr. Wilma thsamht they Amulet have the men thing in operation here Rd they had in those The Coroner maid he had no control over the matter The legislature lied shown the importince attached to the prompt attendance of jurymen, for they laud re. cent'y increased the amount of the fine froin 40s. to O. Those present might remain mid talk the matter over, and at the neat election bring the questions before the candidates, see which would give them the beet promises, and vote for him.—(Laughter.) Mr. Price left the room, and the jury appointed a deputation to wait no Mr. Peacock, M.P., and lay before lanai their views in regard to the payineut of jurymen.