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The Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser Wednesday 27 Aug 1873
Page 7 Column 1 & 2
THE MELANCHOLY CASE OF DROWNING AT TAUNTON.
An inquest was opened at the Bathpool Inn, Bathpool, on Thursday evening (21st inst.), before Dr. CORDWENT, deputy-coroner, and a respectable jury, upon the body of Henry HAWKINS, who was drowned on Manday <sic> last, in the Taunton and Bridgwater Canal, at a spot near the White house, about a mile and a half from Taunton.
The Jury, having been sworn, proceeded to the White house to view the body which had been lying there awaiting the coroner's enquiry.
The spot where the deceased was found in the water was minutely examined. It is 100 years from the swing-bridge, and distinctly visible from the door of the White house. Along the brink of the canal there are in many places small heaps of earth, one of these occur close by the fatal spot, and it is conjectured that the deceased tripped over this heap, and fell at an angle from the bank into the canal with the face downwards.
The body having been identified by Henry BATH as that of Henry HAWKINS, aged about 23 years, the following evidence was taken:-
Alice CRUDGE said: I live at the White house, in the parish of Cheddon Fitzpaine, with my son, Joseph CRUDGE. Mr. LANGDON and Mrs. LANGDON lodge here with me. On Monday evening last, the 18th inst., at about nine o'clock, I heard voices on the canal bank at about 60 years distant from my house. They seemed voices of terror; they were men's voice. I and my son, Joseph CRUDGE, went to the door in consequence. From this doorway we saw a man running on the canal bank. This man was calling out that a man was in the water, or that a man was drowned, I cannot recollect which. My son, Joseph, then put his boots on, and went out with a lantern to see what was the matter. I followed a few minutes afterwards. The deceased, Henry HAWKINS, had been got out of the water just before I got on the bank of the canal. A medical man, Mr. FARRANT, of Taunton, had been sent for, and soon afterwards arrived. The corpse was then brought into my house by my son and Mr. LANGDON, my lodger. A soldier, who appeared to have been in company with deceased, attended with a light. This soldier appeared to have been drinking, but was not much the worse for liquor. There were two other men. These ran for the doctor. One of these returned soon after the corpse was in the house. I was not previously acquainted with deceased. Both the soldier and the other men appeared much distressed at what had happened, and they remained several hours in this house with the deceased. It was full five minutes from the first alarm till I saw the body taken out of the water.
Joseph CRUDGE, son of the last witness, having heard her evidence over, corroborated the same, and added – I got on the canal bank before my mother. I saw three men standing on the bank looking into the water. One of them was about to get into the water. He was a little way in at the time. This was the soldier. At this place I saw some object in the water; it was the tail of a man's coat. This object was about seven or eight feet from the brink. It was on the surface of the water. The water at that spot is about 2½ feet deep.
By a Juror: Was the tail of the coat visible without the aid of a candle?
Witnesses: I cannot say. I saw it by means of my lantern which I carried. I saw men running on the bank of the canal from our door. The soldier and my self and others helped to get the body out, and the deceased appeared to be quite dead when taken out. His hands were open. A police-constable afterwards searched the pockets of deceased, and found a pipe, 3s 4½d in money, and a few other articles. I think all of the men had been drinking but were not incapable.
Wm. LANGDON, the lodger referred to, corroborated the former evidence in the main, and also deposed that he heard noises on the canal bank. He said:- I was then in bed, but I got up and looked out of the window. I saw men speaking to Mrs. CRUDGE, saying that there was a man in the water. Joseph CRUDGE lit a lantern, and went at once to the canal bank. I followed in the course of a minute or two. I could see my way about without a candle. It was a gloomy night, and it was rather dark. I should think that at the time I speak of, without a candle, it would have been possible to see the tail of the deceased's coat in the water. The deceased had been taken out of the water when I arrived. I have heard the evidence of both the previous witnesses, and it is true.
Henry BATH, a shoemaker, residing at Taunton, and one of the three who were with the deceased man at the time the sad event occurred, was then sworn, but owing to the lateness of the hour, the deputy-coroner decided on adjourning the enquiry.
On behalf of the bereaved widow, Mr. BATH asked that the inquest might be resumed at as early a date as possible, as the Club, of which the deceased was a member, would not advance the funeral allowance until a verdict was delivered.
The
Deputy-Coroner regretted if any inconvenience should arise, but said
he felt it imperative that a full investigation should be made.
A
Juror: I think I shall be expressing the feelings of my fellow
jurymen, if I say we all deeply commiserate with the widow in her
bereavement; as also with the friends of the deceased.
The deputy Coroner: I deeply commiserate with the poor young man. He appears to have been a strong, healthy man, and that he should have been drowned in two feet of water, at 9 o'clock on a summer's night, is a matter which deserves very serious enquiry.
The Deputy-Coroner then presented 5s to Mrs CRUTCH for her kindness in receiving the body into her house; and 2s 6d to Joseph CRUTCH for his prompt attention.
The inquest was then adjourned until 6 o'clock on Friday evening, when the following evidence was heard:-
John STEVENSON said: I keep the Sun Inn public-house, Firepool, in the parish of St. James. The deceased, Henry HAWKINS, was at my house on Monday last, the 18th inst., in company with three others. They came at about half-past seven or quarter to eight in the evening. They had two quarts of beer between them, but I wish to add that they did not drink much of it themselves. They shared it with others who were visiting at my house. Deceased and his three companions left at about half-past eight o'clock. They went towards Bathpool, down by the canal; they seemed to be on quite friendly terms. They did not appear to be intoxicated. At about half-past nine o'clock one of the four men came back to my house, and said “the little one was drowned,” by which I understood he meant the smaller one of the four. He appeared in great haste; he told me that another of the men had gone for the doctor. I went to the White house, but he did not accompany me.
Elizabeth MURLESS said: On Monday evening last, the 18th inst., I was near the Sun Inn at about a quarter to nine o'clock. Near the bridge I saw the deceased, Henry HAWKINS; I was acquainted with him, and spoke to him. I was on my way to Bathpool walking on the canal bank. Soon afterwards deceased was joined by companions, I did not see who, as I was in front of them. Continued near them till I approached the White house. There my husband joined me, and then we walked faster than the men deposed to. These men appeared from their conversation to be on friendly terms, and not intoxicated. I did not hear of this occurrence till next morning. I assisted in laying out the body of deceased in company with two others. There were no marks of violence on the body. I was sufficiently near them to hear their voices till my husband joined us. The night was cloudy and foggy. I do not think that a dark object such as the tail of a black coat in the water at a distance of about seven or eight feet from the brink would have been visible.
Henry BATH, cordwainer, residing at 32, Westgate-street, S. Mary's, Taunton: On Monday evening last I was in company with the deceased, who was my brother-in-law; his age was 22 last October; he lived at No. 8, The Mount, Taunton, and was a bricklayer by occupation. On the day in question James NORCOTT, a soldier, and James HUGHES, of Taunton, were also with me and the deceased. We left the Sun Inn, on Monday evening, about half-past 8, and walked on the canal bank towards Bathpool, where NORCOTT resides. Mrs. MURLESS was walking a short distance in front. Neither I, NORCOTT, nor the deceased were intoxicated. We all arrived on the canal bank near the White house. I and James HUGHES were walking together, at about ten to fifteen years behind the deceased and James NORCOTT. I heard the latter distinctly say “Hold on; I fall to the rear.” Instantly after this I heard, “Harry, where are you gone to?” The deceased had moved on a few yards. I ran up, for the tone of voice alarmed me. I could only see NORCOTT: I heard no splash nor saw any movement of the water. NORCOTT was looking into the water: he said “Harry is fallen in here, “ meaning the deceased. The evening was very dark. NORCOTT remained on the spot while I ran to give the alarm at the White house, which was about 60 or 70 yards distant. Joseph CRUDGE followed me back with a light. NORCOTT was in over the bank groping about for the deceased. I threw out my coat to NORCOTT, at the same time the light was brought. By means of the light with Joseph CRUDGE brought we found the deceased in the water, and NORCOTT lifted him out. It was eight feet from the brink that we found the body. NORCOTT, myself and others placed the body on the bank. I should suppose that at the very extreme deceased was not in the water five minutes. I laid the body on the bank and rolled it, but it showed no signs of life. I asked some one to go for a doctor; but I afterwards went myself, and James HUGHES, who started with me, accompanied me part of the way and then became exhausted. I then reported it at the police station and returned to the deceased at the White house. A policeman accompanied me. I remained a the White house till one o'clock in the morning, as also did James NORCOTT. The efforts made to recover the life of deceased were continued for two or three minutes. I tore open his clothes and found there was no beating of the heart before I started for the doctor. I went to Mr. FARRANT's house, and there I fainted.
James NORCOTT, private in the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, bearing a medal and four bars for service in the Crimean war, a Turkish war medal, and a medal for long service and good conduct, said: On Monday evening last, at about nine o'clock, I was on he <sic> canal bank near the White house. My two brothers-in-law, namely, Henry HAWKINS, the deceased, and Henry BATH, were in my company. We were walking towards Bathpool. I said to HAWKINS, “I am going to drop to the rear.” I then turned towards the hedge and looked round to Harry BATH, who was coming behind. All at once I lost sight of Henry HAWKINS. I heard a splash in the water, but could not tell the exact spot, and I did not see the water move. I went as quickly as possible to the spot as near as I could judge it, and stooped down to try if I could hear any bubbling in the water, but could hear nothing. Henry BATH then ran to the White house and cried out that a man had fallen into the water. I was not intoxicated, nor was the deceased, nor BATH. The first object I caught at was a week, and then I took another step forward, and caught part of the deceased's dress. We quickly got him on to the canal bank, and endeavoured to restore him. The body was afterwards taken into the White house. BATH, who had gone for the doctor, afterwards returned, and we remained with the body for a long time. The doctor was on the spot within half-an-hour after the body was taken out of the water. The night was cloudy and dark. We continued the efforts to restore life for about three minutes.
Emmanuel HAWKINS, the father of the deceased, deposed to his son being subject to fits, and to a physician having expressed an opinion that he (the son) “might go off any minute.”
The jury having consulted together, returned a verdict of “Accidental death,” at the same time exonerating all the parties concerned from any culpable neglect. They further suggested the desirability of having authorised and minute instructions as to the best means of restoring the apparently drowned exposed at certain points near the river, and at other places for the information of the public.
Dr. CORWENT said he quite concurred in the verdict delivered, and promised that the suggestion of the jury should received his attention.