The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1890-01-11 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

DEATH OF A FOREMAN.  An inquest was held at the Navigation-inn, Foleshill, on Monday, before Dr. Iliffe, touching the death of John Arculus (47), foreman weaver at Messrs. Cash and Sons, King Fields, but living with his father at Little-heath. Mr. Henry Webster was elected foreman of the jury, who viewed the body, which lay hi an adjoining skittle alley. Beyond a few bruises on the right side of the face, there was nothing to indicate that the body had been in the water for over a week. Thomas Arculus, Little-heath, father of deceased, stated his son had been foreman at Messrs. Cash and Sons for 25 years. He saw him on the last occasiot, at home on Boxing-day, about 12 o'clock at noon. Before deceased left he arranged with his mother to get his food ready for the next morning. Edwin Blake, weaver. 26, King Fields, stated he had known deceased for the past eighteen years. He was with him on Boxing-day about 3.45 o'clock in the afternoon, and left him, deceased stating he was going home ; he was not tipsy, but was "fresh." He could walk straight. On the following Tuesday he heard that he was missing. Deceased had no enemies that he knew of.  The Coroner: Do you think deceased got in the water accidentally or was pushed in ? I don't think he was pushed in but that he fell in accidentally.—Was he of a:desponding turn of mind ? No, but he was not a very cheerful man to those who did not know him.—Do you think he committed suicide P No.—Are you of opinion that his condition was such as to account for him getting in the water ? No; he was not so fresh as to be incapable of taking care of himself. My theory is that he was walking up the steep incline near the Navigation bridge, and on account of the slippery nature of the ground, stumbled and fell into the water. I have no idea of foul play. Thomas Brandish, engine driver, Little-heath, stated he knew him well. He last saw him about three weeks ago ; deceased was not a heavy drinking man. On Sunday, Jan. sth, he was dragging the canal in company with his 8011 near the Navigation Bridge and came across the body, which was at the bottom of the canal. Deceased had no hat on, but was dressed; his clothes were not torn. He did not think for one moment that there had been foul play. P.c. Burton stated he searched the body and found upon it a watch and some money. The watch stopped at 4.40. The Coroner stated that as a report had gone the round of the parish that deceased had met his death by foul play, he had decided to call Dr. John Orton, who had made an examination of the body, to give evidence. Dr. Orton deposed that there was a slight abrasion on the brow and marks of bruises on the right cheek. There was no disfiguration of the clothes and he was of opinion that death was due to asphyxia, the result of drowning. There were no signs of a struggle. The Coroner, in summing up, said the only matter for the jury to consider was the state of the man's mind, and whether his death was or was not due to his being in drink at the time, The watch stopped at 20 minutes to five, so that little time elapsed from when the witness Blake saw the deceased to the period when he fell into the water. There could be little reliance placed in the report that he was assaulted.  The jury then considered their verdict, but not agreeing as to the condition of deceased, Charles Haughton and William Kellam were called in, but their evidence did not assist them in their decision. Eventually they returned a verdict of "Accidental death," adding that the accident was the result of deceased being in drink. The Coroner concurred.