The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1876-08-26 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

INQUEST.—An inquest on the body of Mr. H. Clark, builder, of this town, who was found in the Avon on Friday morning last, was held at the Green Man Inn, Kenilworth, on Saturday morning. before W. S. Poole, Esq., coroner.—Mr. H. Page was foreman of the jury.—The first witness examined was Mr. John Perks, who deposed: I am a gamekeeper to Lord Leigh. I live at Thickthorn Lodge. In consequence of information I received from my son I went to a meadow on the Wootton side of Chesford Bridge, about eight o'clock on Friday morning. I Saw a man in the water, about three yards from the side. I got the body out, and did not at first recognise it, as the face was much swollen. I afterwards saw who it was. The water is very deep in the middle of the stream, but not where the body was.--Mrs. Clark, widow of the deceased, said her husband came to his own house about a quarter to eleven on the Wednesday previous, and went to bed, and got up again about twelve, and said lie was going to see the pigs. She never saw him again. She could not at all explain the reason for his drowning himself. He was happy in his family and circumstances, but he had complained of his head very much recently.— Mr. W. Ball soul: I am a builder st Xmilworth. Mr. Clark and I were frieuils, and we had business together. On the Tuesday morning we settled some business matters. He seemed the night before going away depressed. He had no business matters that I know of to prey upon his mind. I was with him till ten. He complained of his head, and said be could not calculate. I perceived for some time past that his memory was failing him. I did not observe anything particular in his manner. He had not been drinking at all; he would, not drink. Worrell, his man, came to my house on the Thursday morning and asked if I had seen him. Several of us had agreed to go out the next Monday, but he had afterwards said he would have a day or two first, as "lie was beat." He had the rheumatic fever very badly some years ago. He left the public-house of his own free will. Both the father and mother of the deceased were somewhat peculiar. He has recently taken medicine, and talked of having a doctor.— James Goldey, son-in-law of deceased, said: I have been here the last six months, but I only took the business at the Green Man on the 2nd of this month. Deceased moved away a fortnight ago, and went to the cottage on the opposite side of the way. WRS with him half an hour after Mr. Ball left. He bad some bread and cheese, but I did not talk much to him, as I was busy. He has seemed lowspirited and dull for some time past. His leaving the public-house and my coming was by his own wish—he wanted to have hi a daughter nearer. I was to pay him for coming in. When I first came he said he would turn everything over to me, but I said I would rather pay him something. He seemed sorry when the time came for him to go, though he had consented to do so. I gave him a sum of money some time since, which he banked at Coventry in his own name. He was to pay himself out of it and give me the remainder when I wanted it. He was in no pecuniary difficulties. There has been no unpleasantness between us. He said he should like to come balk again, and that he ought to have given up his other business instead of this.—John Clark, Esq., M.R.C.S.. said that the whole appearance of the body was consistent with death from drowning, and that from the evidence he had heard he had no doubt deceased was of unsound mind.—A verdict was then returned that deceased committed suicide by drowning, and that at the time he was of unsound mind.