The Haslingden Gazette. — 1910-08-27 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

NOT AN ACCRINGTON VICTIM. •  THE MYSTERY UNSOLVED.  Tire Douglas Coroner COfteluded on Wednesday the inquest concerning the deaths of Lewis Wilson Mattliews, Douglas (19), Amy Cain, Douglas (18). and James M'Callum (40), formerly of Hull, the victims of the Douglas drowning mystery, their throe bodies having been found in the harbour. The body of James 3412a11um has been claimed by three women, from Accrington, Edinburgh, and Llandudno Mrs 3icCullock, of Richmond-street, Accrington, who at one time thought M'Callum might be her husband, informed a Press repreeentative that she had not seen her husband for eight ! months. When in Accrington he worked as a I spindle maker at Howard and Bullough's, and was ' 43 years of age. However, at the inquest on Wednesday, Jane M'Callum, Mansfield, Clifton-road, Llanchidno, positively identified the body of the hitherto unknown man as that of her husband, Jatnen M'Callum, an iros fitter, who had recently been working in Hull and at other ',lance. Witness last heard from him a few weeks ago, but had not seen him since last October, as in tire course of his work for a firm of contractors be had to go about the country. Deceased was a man of normal disposition, and, so far as witness knew, was not likely tg commit suicide.  Mabel M'Callum, sister of deeeatted, also positively identified the body as that of claMe4 M'Calltun, and agreed he was not prone to euiride.  The Coroner, addres,ing the jury-, said the orcurrenee an still surrounded with a mystery which was not likely to be explained. He could not we how anything but an open lerdict could be returned.  Some of the jury expressed a view that it should he stated in the verdict that there was no connection between M'Callum's death and that of Matthews and Cain, but eventually a verdict to the effect that the three were " Found drowned" was returned.  Previous evidence had been given. Catherine Jane Kelly, aunt of deceased girl, ' stated that Cain was at her home on Friday afternoon, anti that in the ordinary course would not have returned until late at night. Witness was aware that some months ago the girl was keeping company with Matthews, but she had not seen her with him lately. Dr. Mackenzie statixl there were no marks of violence on either Matthews or Cain, except some post-mortem abrasions on the former. John Craine, residing on the south side of the harbour, said that at 11-15 on Friday night a young man told him there was a man in the water. They both ran down together to the jetty, and witness went straight to the end for a lifebelt, which he knew to be there. When he got back to the spot where the body had been seen it had disappeared. The young man went to inform the police, and witness waited till the police came. A lady and gentleman mere fishing at the point of the jetty when witness went for the lifelielt, but they had not seen or heard anything,. When witness went back with the lifebelt he noticed a young man standing with his bask to the wall below Fort Anne. and a young woman was standing on the opposite side near the railings. Police-Constable Clarke deposed that at 11-29 two young gentlemen told him that a man had been drowned at the steps below Fort Anne. On arriving at the spot there were several people about but no sign of a body in the water. Robert Hayes and another boatman threw a line and grapnel down, and at the second attempt drew up the body of the man, since believed to be M'Callurn or ITCulloch, which had been lying close to the steps. Artificial respiration was of no avail, and the body was taken to the mortuary. There was a broken step on which the man might have slipped. When the constable ran to the jetty the young men who gave information disappeared, and have not been heard of since. James Afidgley, licensee of the Trafalgar Hotel, close to the scene of the tragedy, recollected having seen the man now suppoeed to have been ideni titled in his hotel on Thursday and Friday. He got bread and cheese and beer at dinner time on Friday, and told Midgley that lie was a fitter and had been engaged putting girders in mills in Manchester and Bolton. He did not appear depresses). Constable Clarke spoke to finding the body of Amy Cain lying on the sands face downwards, within ten yards of where the man was found. On the body was 6s. 9d., and a receipt for a pair of boots made out in the name of L. Matthews This girl also had half a pound of butter, which she had evidently intended to take home. Witness had not heard that the girl had been in any trouble. Robert Hayes, boatman, said that a young gentleman came to him at 11-15 and told him there was a man in the water. Ile saw the man struggling, but when he got to the rep of the steps the man had disappeared. Witness went to a ferry steamer, two hundred yards distant, and got the grapnel. with which at the second attempt lie recovered the body. _  Edmund liawnt, confectioner, Peverel Buildings, Douglas, told the Coroner that the girl was assisting him in sugar boiling, and left the, premises shortly after ten o'clock. He had many times seen her with Matthews, and understood the two were keeping company. She was a well conducted girl, and a general favourite. John Hughes swore be saw Cain crossing the Harbour Bridge about 11-25 in company with a young man.  Elizabeth Cavil mid she heard a Fplash in tho water under Fort Anne, about 11-15, but she could not see anything between the steps and the Battery Fier She saw a young man and a young woman standing at the railings. The man did not appear quite sober. The couple were arm in arm. and the attention of witness was directed to them by the girl saying more than once, "No, I won't." William 'Jerrie, who was fishing at the end of Victoria Pier in the early hours on Saturday morning, stated that about 1-30 he heard a heavy splash in the direction of Fort Anne, and about twenty minutes later he heard a second splash. Emily Christian's evidence was to the effect that eh*, saw :Matthews about eleven o'clock in Strandstreet. He had had some drink. Lily Ross, vocali4 at. the Oddfollows Arms, said , that. Matthews spent Friday evening there, and he had spoken of going away by the afternoon steamer. They tried to persuade him to go back to the boat on which he had been employed at steward. The inquiry ended as stated above.