The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1896-08-19 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

SUSPICIOUS CASE OF DROWNING.  PECULIAR NOTE FOUND ON THE DOCK QUAY.  An inquest was held on Monday afternoon at the Victoria Hotel, Cleveland-street, by Mr. C. W. Tibbita, the deputy coroner for West Cheshire, on the body of Thomas Evans, carter, M years of age, who had lived at 25, Gordon-street. Deceased hail been missing from home since the 9th inst. His dead body was on Saturday afternoon seen floating in the West Float dock, and was recovered and removed to the dead-house by P.C. Ellwood. The deceased's .wife., Mary Evans, stated that on August let she went away for a holiday, and her husband accompanied her to the railway station. He was to have met her on Saturday last, at Woodside. On Tuesday last week she heard that he was missing, and on Saturday she returned to Birkenhead. Replying to the Coroner, witness said she did not return on Tuesday, because it was no use of her coming here when the deceased was not at home. Her mother would not let her come. A neighbour had written her informing her of her husband's disappearance. She had teen married four years, and had three little children. She and the deceased had lived very !lamely together, and they had had no quarrel. He took some drink, but "did not get drunk so often." She was not aware that he t3ok a deal of drink during her absence. Her holiday had been spent in a district near to Mold. Deceased was a perfectly healthy man, and was not subject to giddiness or fits. Elizal eth Owens, 27, Gordon-street, gave evidence as to hearing the deceased about his house for a week after his wife went away. Another neighbour wrote to Mrs. Evans.  Gtorge Stanwsy, 17, Sun•street, chief foreman for the L. and N.W. Railway Company, by whom deceits* d was employed, deposed that the deceased left his home and lorry on Tuesday, the 4th instant, during the forenoon, and went away from his mirk, returning late in the evening. Next morning at 6 o'clock witness accused him of drinking, and deceased admitted that he had been taking drink. Witness told him to go hums and corns back at 10 o'clock, and deceased went off, but did not return till 10 o'clock on Thursday morning. Witnas then suepended him until the following Monday. On the Friday deceased drew the wages owing to him, and he had, in witness's opinion, the appearance of having been drinking. As he did not turn up on the Monday morning witness had inquiries made concerning him, and ascertained that lie was miming from home. Inspector Glass produced a man's hat which had been found on the dock quay, and inside which was discovered a small piece of paper, on which was written "T. Evans, 35, Gordon-street." Above this was what appeared to le the beginning of an unfinished sentence. the words apparently being "Have I got." or ' lave gone." The witness identified the handwriting as that of the deceased. P.C. Ellwood gave evidpce as to the finding of the body on which he found various articles, including four pawntickets. dated August 4th, 1896, .Tuly 20th, 1895, July 21st, 1895, and December 9th, 1895. The ticket dated August referred to a pair of trousers, which were placed in pledge for 2s. Addressing the jury the coroner said : I must say from the evidence it looke very suspicious, very much as if the man had committed suicide; but I don't think the evidence is at all conclusive, and it seems tome we can hardly go further than to say the man was found drowned. The jury concurred, and returned a verdict accordingly.  STRAWSON Btousits are the hest because they are the prettiest and cheapest in torsn.-25t, Grangeroad. my2kovlB