Widnes Examiner. — 1891-05-16 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

SAD DROWNING FATALITY AT EAALESTOWN. On Tuesday morning, Mr. S.. Brighouse, coroner, held am inquiry at,thn Wargrave Inn, into the circumstances attending the death of Jas Smith, a printer, employed at Afesers.McCorquodale and Co.'s works, who was drowned on the previous Saturday night in the Sankey Canal, near Hay locks, Vulcan The first witness-called was Mary Smilth, widow of the deceased man. In her evidence ske deposed that she lived' at Kilshaw's cottages,Burtonwood. Her husband was a.printer in, the employ of Messrs. McCorquodale and Ca. at _Newton. He was 28 years of age last birthday. She saw him alive on Saturday morning about twenty-eve iniatites to six, when he was in good health. She expected to see him ' again on Saturday at dialler tirne„ but she did not see ' him egain alive. Shosaw his dead body on Sunday morning. He oftea got a drop of drink at the week-end but never during - tile week. Mrs. Hannah Williamson,, landlady of the Wargrave Inn, said she knevr, the deceased. He came into her house, a little before eight o'clock on Saturday night, with aaother man aamed McCormick, and they went into the snug. They ordered two beers, and she took them in, but Smith only drank a small portion of his beer, but she did not see that he was intoxicated when she served him. When he got np he appeared to stagger. He had ooly- one gill of beer in her house. McCormick went out and left Smith in the room. Another man went out with Smith shortly afterwarth,and that was the last she saw of lsim.4—Sergeant Longworth.: Do you remeniber telling me on Sunday it was owing to his drunkenness youavould not serve him; that when begot up he staggered.—Witness : Yes, he did stagger.—Sergeant Longworth : But did you not tell me it was awing to his drunkneness you would not serve him.—Witness: No, I did not.—Charles Rhodes said he was in the Wargrave Inn, on. Saturday night. He left the house with Smith, and, was in the house when he came in, which would be abouthalf-paat seven with a man named Mc Cormick, He seemed to be sober when he came in. It would be about half-past eight when he left, and during that time, ha only drank a small portion of a glass of beer. He did not assist deceased across the railway crossing. In his.opinion Smith was quite capable of taking care himself, but the road he had to go was a dangerous one. —By Sergeant Longworth : Mrs. Williamson declined to serve him when deceased called for another glass of beer. Witness did not suggest to take him home.—Mary Derbyshire living at Burtonwood, said about a quarter-past eight, OD Saturday night, she NO as going along the canal bank, and when about 800 yards from Hay locks, she heard a plunge in the water. She hurried to the spot, and saw a man's head just above the water. She called to deceased, but he took no notice. He appeared to be standing in the water but he sank and did not rise again. Sheput a mark on the canal bank at the spot, and then went to the lock house, and reported the occurrance.— By the Sergeant: She remembered Smith's wife's sister committing suicide at nearly the same spot, about 12 months ago.—P.C. T. Bowes stationed at Newton, said Information was conveyed to the police station, by some- ' one from the lock house, and he went to the place. The last witness was at the lock house, and she pointed out the place where the man was drowned. The body was recovered about 11 o'clock the same night. The canal was seven feet deep about a yard frGm the side, and the body was four yards from the side. On the deceased he found lid. in money. There were no marks of violence and no signs a a struggle on the bank. A verdict of "Accidentally drowned," was brought in.