From the Kentish Gazette, 18 January 1848.

NEW ROMNEY.

On Friday last, an inquest was held at the "Guildhall," before J. Russell, Esq., coroner, and a respectable jury, touching the death of Robert Lung, a shoemaker, of this town, who was found drowned. The depositions of the witnesses were to the following effect:—

Nathaniel Leonard said, I am a labourer, living in New Romney. About five minutes past eight o'clock this morning I was walking on the road leading from New Romney to Saint Mary’s, and in the ditch adjoining Mr. Coates’s field I discovered the body of a man. The body was covered with water except part of the right arm. I and another person raised it. There was about two feet and a half of water in the ditch. The deceased had on all his clothes except his hat, which was stuck in the mud under the water. He had no marks of violence on his person.

Thomas Ealse said, I am a labourer, living at Saint Mary's. A little after ten o’clock on Tuesday night last I heard a person calling out. I was gone to bed; I opened the window and asked what was the matter, when the deceased, Robert Long, asked me to point out the way to New Romney. He was standing against the fence. I directed him, and he wished me good night three or four times, and then walked up the road towards Romney.

Edward Lester, landlord of the "Star Inn," at Saint Mary’s, said the deceased, Robert Long, was at my house upwards of two hours on the evening of Tuesday last; he had half a quartern of rum and a pint of stout; he left my house about a quarter past nine, and said he should go home round the road. It was not dark; there was a little moonlight. He was, in my opinion, quite capable of walking home. Thomas Ealse's house is nearly a mile nearer Romney than mine.

Nathaniel Leonard recalled:— The spot where I discovered the deceased is about a quarter of a mile from the "Plough," and not quite half a mile from Thomas Ealse's house at St. Mary's.

Verdict, "Found drowned."