The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1882-07-28 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

DEATH AT WELSH  ST. DONATT'S.  On Thursday morning, at sik a.m., the dead body of a man was found in a pond at Welsh St. Donatt's, near the church. The body was first seen by Mr. Richard Thomas, of Welsh St. Donates, as he was taking his horses to water early in the morning. He got assistance and drew out the body from the water, and took it into the church. The body was dressed in a blue pilot cloth monkey jacket, fustian trousers and vest, laced-up navvy boots, grey worsted stockings, and a cloth cap with peak of the same material, such as is worn by sailors. The clothes were searched, and in his pocket was found a receipt, dated 24th Juno, 1882, with the name of Thomas Davies upon it, and appearing to be a receipt for payment of .61 to an emigration agent at Llanelly. The deceased appeared to be about 30 years of age, sft. 10in, high, slightly built, dark brown hair, whiskers shaved off, and a rather heavy brown moustache. The body awaits an inquest. The young man was seen on the previous day walking about the neighbourhood, and called at the house of Mr. William Yates for a drink of water about 9.30 p.m., when it was noticed he appeared rather despondent. It is feared that he committed suicide. The inquest was held at the Three Horse Shoes, Welsh Saint Donatts, on Friday, before Mr E. B. Reece, coroner, and a respectable jury of which Mr W. V. Huntley was the foreman. The following is the evidence : Richard Thomas said—l am employed by Mr Huntley. At 6 a.m. on Thursday morning as I took the horses to water, I saw a man lying in the pool : half of his face was oat of the water. I at once sent and told my master. I then got assistance and took him out; lie was dead and quite cold. We then took him into the church which is close to the pool. I never saw him before nor I cannot hear of any person that saw him in the neighbourhood. He was not in the pool at ten o'clock the night More. Sergeant W. Martin said, on Thursday morning last Mr Huntley sent to him to say the body of a man had been found in a pool at Welsh St. Donatts. He proceeded there and found that the body had been xemoved to the church. He searched the clothes which were upon the body and found an empty purse and a receipt for 20s from an emigration agent at Llanelly ; the receipt was as followsi—" Received from Thos. Davies, the sum of 20s, 24th June, 1882. (Signed), J. Chalinder." There was no mark of violence on the body. Deceased was a man of the following descriptions About 30 years of age, 5 feet 10 inches high, slightly built, dark brown hair (cut short), whiskers shaved off, a rather heavy brown moustache, full face, short neck, dressed in blue pilot cloth monkey jacket, fustian trousers and vest, laced. up heavy navvy boots (much worn), grey worsted stockings, a blue cloth cap with peak of the same material, and a leather strap round his waist, such as is worn by navvies. The pool is no more than 18 inches deep in the deepest part. I examined the edge of the pool and could see footmarks, as though deceased went into the pool and came out, and went a little distance along the edge and into the pool again. There was no evidence of identification or as to how the deceased came by his death, and the Coroner having summed up, the jury returned a verdict that deceased was found dead in the Church Pool at Welsh St. Donatts, at 6 am, on the morning of the 20th July, 1882. Deceased was afterwards buried in the Welsh St Donatts Churchyard, the burial service having been performed by the Rev 0. B. Price, curate of Cowbridge. On Saturday morning a woman came to view the body, but was unfortunately too late, as the body had been interred.