The Telegram. — 1894-02-13 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

SAD DEATH BY DROWNING. AN OPEN VERDICT.  Dr. J. Cornyns Leach held an enquiry on Monday, at the Seyruer Arms, on the body of Fredk. Pearcey, aged 29 years, who was found drowned in the River Stour.—Mr.Roffey was chosen foreman of the jury.— Edward Melmoth said the deceased, who he identified, was his brother-in-law. About five o'clock on Tuesday, January 30th, deceased was working just below his house; that was the last time he saw him alive. He thought he was sober at the time. Deceased used to drink Very hard, and was always very sullen and melancholy. He had not been in work for some time. Win. Lawrence, a small farmer, of Shillingstone, said he knew the deceased very well. Ile was in his company on Tuesday from 8.30 to 9.30 in the bar of the public-house. When he first saw him he had had a little drink. He was very quiet, and when he questioned deceased he only just answered him. During the time he was with him he paid for one pint of beer, and when he went in he was drinking out one pint. Deceased had never said anything to him nor had he seen anything that would lead him to think that :he would commit suicide. No-one drank with him out of either pint.—Ellen Crew, general servant, said she knew the deceased, but not well, as lie was an eccentric character. Sometimes he would speak and sometimes not. She was at the pump a little before closing time, and turning round she saw deceased. They neither spoke. The night was dark and rough, and she saw him no more. He went away alone, and was always quiet.— Robert Holdway, a farm labourer, of Child Oktford, said he ‘heard the deceased was lost, and came on Friday to the river to help look for him, but was unsuccessful. On that morning he was walking round the river juat below Hayward Bridge, and saw two human hands just above the water. He called for assistance, and helped to get the body out. Ile knew the deceased quite well, and recognised the body. There were no ruarks on him.— P.C. Northover, Child Okeford, said that en Wednesday he received information of the deceased being missing from his home. During the following days, with Inspector Burden and P.C. ?Groves, he searched the Stour. He went to Hayward Lodge, and received a hat (eroduced)from a boy, which he thought looked like the hat which deceased wore. That morning the last witness shouted across to the station. Witness went with other men to bins by the river and saw deceased lying on his back with his arms up about 300 yards below the bridge, near the bank. The river Was very low at the time. They pulled him out, and he examined him. He found no bruises, except a slight cut on the left eye. He searched him and found on Min 21, a pocketbook. handkerchief, and a collar. Afterwards with assistance they brought him to the hotel.—Samuel Crane, porter at Shillingstone station, said he saw the hat (produced) on Wednesday morning, near Hayward Bridge, about 6.30. It was lying on the road close to the rails. He picked it up, looked at it, anti put it in the sante place as before. It was wet.—Henry Trowbridge, a mason, said the deceased lodged with Min for about four months. He was a very quiet man and was fothl of the drink. The last time he saw him alive was on Tuesday morning. He had not paid for his lodgings lately and witness did not think lie had the money to pay. Deceased commenced working for Min on Tuesday, January 30t1i. He would not have thought that lie would have committed suicide.—John Dowding, landlord of the Seyiner Arms, said he knew the deceased very well. Ile came into the bar at about six o'clock en Tuesday, January 30th. Ile was served with a pint of beer by wi: ness& son in his presence. He went to tea and when he returned deceased was still there. Ile was sober when he came in.—The jury returned an open verdict of "Found drowned."