Penistone, Stocksbridge and Hoyland Express, etc. — 1913-03-01 (Penistone, South Yorkshire, England)

DOWNFALL DUE TO DRINK.  Mr. P. P. Maitland, the district coroner., conducted an inquiet- in the IVesleyan Schoolroom. Wombwell, on Monday. touching the death of Edwin Ciood.hall Patrick, formerly a gardener. and latterly a surface labourer employed at Wail Main Colliery, whose body was recovered from the canal near the Wombwell Junction bridge, on Saturda...- atternoort Mr. Robinson. Guide Post 1V41.6 the foreman of the jury. Jane Elizabeth Patrick said the deceased, was her husband. WM 43 yeirs of age, and they had been married 19 years. lie woe a strong. healthy man. Until three years ago , he was employed as a gentleman's gardener. !I hut lost his situation owing to his intemperate habits. lie then came to work at the Wath Main colliery as a surface labourer. About four years ago floceasted was found wandering at Pontefract, itnil was detainei as insane in the Wakefield Asylum. subse. ! fluently being transfsgrtsl ta Nottif ighant ' Asylum. After being an inmate of that institution for about a month he was discharged as cured. Preious to this he had never showed any signs of insanity. Cif .lesving the asylum he went to work as a !gardener at Holton Perry, and afterwards at ' Searboro'. Ile repeatedly loot his situations on account of intemperance. Oa deceased 'obtaittin' r work at Wath Main Colliery, he ! wrote and asked witness if she would come and lite with him again, and she consented. !Ile was very steady until a year ago, fadien he again broke out for a fortnight. Bo again reformed, and worked regularly until a fortnight ago. Ile had often t.hreateno4 her. llor hu.sband came on Friday at teatime. He was very strange in his manner. lie was in a kind of deliriam all through the night, and knit getting up to the window. He got up in the morning at 4-30. and went to work aei usu.d, taking his food with hint. This was the last time witness saw him alive. Shs hoard that he bad been found drowned at-O the same afternoon  The Coroner: Iles-heeTer throafened to do awey with bimeelt?—Witheeo: Yo, but he has never_at-tomptod to do so.  Chas. Whitettouse„ pit labourer, employed at Wath Main Colliery. said he had worked along with detoascd for aye, months, ami had always found him to be a good worker. During that time he did not matter anything strange in deceased's manner until he came to work on Saturday mort.ing for the first time after a fortnight's abeence. He than seemed rather quiet, and acted in a peculiar [ way. Witness understood that he had been seat home on account of his strange manner. , Questioned by the Coroner, witness said [ that he had never seen deceased the worse for drink. He looked wild en the morning in question. bat did not threaten suicide George Hartshorn, a bright little fellow of eight years, was nest ealled, giving his evidence in a very clear manner. lie said he lived at No. N. GaDerete Houses. Bramp. ton Biorlow. On the day in quest-Aim he followed the deceased up the road, and when he reverhed the tanal bridge saw him go tle.,,at en to the towing path and jump into the water. lie saw the do 'eased spashing about and finally in, but he did net hear hint shout. Witness then gave the alarm. Bernard Belk. miter. of ,54. Blythe Stvel, Wombwell. said that he heard there was a Inas it the canal at 11-54 on Saturday warn,ing. fir prorated a boat-hook, and with the as,istanoe of other men sureeesiod in getting the body out. Life appeared to be extinct. Da:eased was fully dressed.  The Coroner said he thoirght there could he no doubt as to the state of decease4U4 mind. He had eNidently thrown himself into the canal whilst of unsound mind, as a r4,sult ot ear essive drinking. He was certainty Tho Coror_er added that the wif4 roust have had ir terrible time. erdirt wa, rettirt,ed itaw.erding:3-.