Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1892-03-25 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF  A MASON.  DROWNED IN THE CANAL: DRINKING FOR EIGHT HOURS. WHO KILLED HIM? On Monday, at the Leeds and Liverpool Hotel, Mr. Coroner Robinson conF.uoted an inquiry touch. the death of William Raper Lena, aged 42 years, a mason, of Belgrave-street, Briertieln, —Mr. George Shaw was foremau of the jury.—Sarah Jane Long, widow of the deceased, stated that she last saw her husband alive on the morning of January 27th last. There was no doubt that the body was that of iter hushand.—Adolohus Hooper, labourer of 14, Chapel-street, R:ierfield, deposed that he was with the cleceaaed on the night he was missed. They were at the Bridge Inn, Reedley Hallows. They went there about two o'clock in the afternaoe, and remained there until 10 in the evening. Teey had a good deal of drink at that time, and were BOTH " FRESH " WHEN THEY LEFT the house. Outside the Bridge Inn, on the bridge, witnets stopped talking to another man, and the deceas-e,i went along the river bank, the nearest way home. Witness afterwards proceeded along the path, and shouted to the deceased, but saw nothino more of him.—P.S. Gornali : Tao river was very much swollen that night ?—Witnese : Yes —lt was running over about six or seven feet deep? —Yes.—A juryman: Who was the man that you were talking to ?—Jem Ibbotson, of Brierfield.— How much drink had you from two o'clock to ten? —I can't Hay, sir.—The Coroner: You had lost count 7—Yes, I'd kit count. —A juryman :—Were you both, drunk ?:--I have seen Long worse drunk than he was that night.—Who was the worse of the two ?—I think I was.—Did you get into the river ? —Yes, this side of Jewel mill I slipped into the side of the river.—A juryman: Were there any worda passed between you and Long in the Bridge Inn ?—No, air. Never eine° I have been with him has thorn been a wrong word. —Was there anything maelfeet In Long that you think he miOit have committed suicide or eomothing of that sort? —No, I never heard him say anything,— , Wm. Thomas Ormerod, mason, of Higharn, gave , evidence that he found the body of the deceased on Friday afternoon in the river Calder, below the Duckpits. The deeeaced was floating WITH *A COAT OVER HIS HEAD, and the coat held fast by a large stone. Witness knew the deceased and recognieed the body, —This concluded the evidence and the Coroner remarked that it was quite evident the than had fallen into the water, which was in flood, and that he was more or less intoxicated at the time. The jury 'a proper verdict to find would be that the deceased fell into the river widiat going home under the infleence of drink on a dark night.—A Juryman: It'earather an outside pinee is the Bridge Ina to fill thee drink until they become intoxicated. Could we not pass a vote cf censure on the landlord 7 Gornall said he thought that question would 130 t :Aced and he had the landlord present that morning.—The Coroner: I think it's more a matter for the police to take before the magistrates.—A Juryman: We have a witness here who says they were drunk from two o'clock till ten. The evidence we have before us brings us, 1 think, to the conclusion that he has DIED THROUGH THE EFFECTS OF DRINK he received at the Bridge Inn during that time.— P.S. Gernall said he had found that others besides these two men fell into the river on the night in question.—The Coroner: If there is any blame that Is a matter which the police can investigate before the magistrates. I don't think it comes particularly before us.—A verdict was then returned that the deceased was "Accidentally drowned through falling into the river on a dark night whilst under the influence of drink." Nearly a ton per week of PARKINSON'S Baking Powder is now made. Cs4oa