The Telegram. — 1895-04-16 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

FOUND DROWNED."  An inquest was held at the Three Lions Inn on Monday afternoon, by Mr. H. 0. Chialett (coroner), on the body of William ABC, aged 56 years, a labourer, of Wimborne, who was drowned in the ktiver Stour on the previous Saturday afternoon.—Mr. G. Baker was chosen as foreman of the jury.  William James Butt, - mason, of Corte Mullen, stated that on Saturday afternoon be was irivinv into Wimborne with his wife, who was deceased's sister, and, when passing over Julian's Bridge, his attention was drawn to a crowd on the river bank, and he saw a body drawn out of the water, lie identified it as that of deceased, whom he lain saw alive about a fortnight ago. He had been lodging with witness up to about a year ago, and they were always on friendly terms. Deceased was easily affected by a drop of drink, but witness had never heard him threaten to commit suicide, and he was the last mau he should have thought of to take his own life. Henry Hoare, labourer, of Corfe Mullen, said that he was riding over Julian's Bridge on a bicycle about 4.30 on Saturday afternoon, and saw deceased leaning against the °limpet and looking into the river. He knew the man well but did not speak to him. Chas. Smart, labourer, of Leigh Lane, deposed that about 5.5 or 5.10 on Saturday afternoon lie was going over Julian's Bridge when be saw • hat floating on the aver, on the lower side of the bridge. On going closer he also saw the body of a man under the water, and, with a man named Helxlitch, he went into Mr. Fletcher's field, and they tried to reach the body with a long rail, but 'mold not do so. A man in the employ of Mr. Austin was passing in a cart, and they sent him to the police-station for assistance. Witness could not swim. When the police got the body out, 37 minutes from the time witness first saw it, life was extinct: . .  Charles fiebditch, painter, corroborated, and, in reply to questions put by the jory said he could swim, but not very well. There was a movement in the body before the police arrived When he first saw the body it was in a deep hole 15 or 16 yards from the bridge, and about four yards from the bank of the river—The coroner remarked that both Hebditch and Smart did what the:' could to get ~he body out, and he thought there was no.refiection to be cast upon them. Richard Hann, landlord of the Greyhound Inn, said deceased, whom he had known for several years, had been lodging with him for 15 months. On Saturday morning, about eleven o'clock, be came downstairs and weut out without taking any breakfast. Witness had not since seen him alive. On the previous Tuesday he was out all night, which was a circumstance witness had never Known occur before. He rarely had any intoxicants in witness's house,but on the ThurFday before his death he came home intoxicated. On Friday morning witness told him he would have to leave on the Saturday if he did not pay what he owed for lodgings, as he had got behind in his payment% and deceased replied that there was some money coming to him, and he would discharge the debt. Deceased had complained a good deal of headache, and, when he had it, he sometimes lay in bed all day. Witness had never heard him threaten to take his life. He was of a very quiet and orderly disposition and was in his usual sairita when he went out on Saturday. P.S. Pearse said on Saturday afternoon he recei7ed information at the Police-station about deceased and, accompanied by P.C. White, went to Julian's Bridge, E being driven thither front astbrook in Mr. Rustin's cart. He saw the body ins hole about Ifs yards from the river bank and was told that it had been there for upwards of half-an-hour. P.C. White went back to the Police-station, in the cart, for the grapnel and stretcher and returned in about five minutes. They " threw "four or five times before removing the body and witness was quite satisfied that the deceased was dead. A man in the crowd asaisted them in endeavourtrig to restore animation in accordance with the ioetructions given at the St. Sorfn Ambulance Chasms, hut they were unsuccessful: From the time witness received information till the body was recovered 37 minutes elapsed. There were no 'lurks of violence on the body. In the deceased's pockets witness found two knives, a pipe, and two old purses, but no money.. He was perfectly satisfied, on being told that he had been in the water for half-an-hour, that the man was dead. Every assistmice was rendered to the police by tne nun (named Kerley), in the employ of Mr. Austin. Mr. G. Stroud, landlord of the Three Lions fun, said he saw deceased at 3.30 on Saturday afternoon, when he was sober. The jury returned an pawn verdict of "Pound drowned," and, at their requgs the coroner undertook to comtnunicate with the 'pruner ste.horitiea with a view :a hie-caving apparattla tang placed as near so possible to both John's andt"anfo:d Bridges.