Kentish Mercury, Saturday 14 May 1881.

Singular death by drowning.

An inquest was held on Thursday night at the "Woodman" public house, Charlton, before Mr. Carttar, on the body of George Reed, age 7, of 7, Plough Court, Waterside, Dartford, who was drowned off Charlton under peculiar circumstances.

Prior to the investigation, the father of the deceased child complained that one of the jury (Mr. Wilfred W. Ely, chinaman, Artillery Place, Woolwich) had asked the question; "Where was the animal drowned?" - a remark he considered extremely unfeeling.

The Coroner said he was very sorry anyone in the room should have made use of such an expression, and said they would excuse Mr. Rley's attendance, at which the father expressed himself satisfied.

For the last two or three weeks bills have been posted about Dartford, Bexleyheath, Crayford, Erith, &c, as follows:- Lost on Monday evening last, April 18th, 1881, between 7 and 8 o'clock, Dartford, a little boy, name George Reed, between 7 and 8 years old. Wore a dark brown ulster, Scotch cap, and corduroy trousers. Had a scar on the left temple and left leg, with two teeth out in front. Whoever will restore the boy to his parents at No. 7, Plough Court, Waterside, Dartford, shall receive 10s. reward.

William Reed, stoker at the Phoenix Paper Mills, Dartford, identified the body as that of his son. He last saw him alive at a quarter to two on Easter Monday, going from his home to the Brent (a common near Dartford.) He was then well and hearty. The day was fine, and 20 or 30 other children from his neighbourhood went to the Brent the same afternoon, it being Easter holidays at all the schools. Deceased went with his sister Caroline. On returning to tea neither of the children have returned; but the girl returned about 8 saying she left George in the town. He told her he would stop till the music ceased. The lad not returning, the mother put on her shawl and went to try to find him, but did not succeed. They searched the town and the Brent up to 11 o'clock. Witness, as a last recourse, waded about the Creek, where he had two children previously drowned, but could not find him. The next morning he gave information to the police, and issued printed bills. They searched everywhere; but could get no tidings of him until Tuesday last, when he heard the body had been found off Charlton. His other two children were drowned from the Swing-bridge, owing to it being out of order. At the inquest, the coroner made a representation about the danger of the bridge; but it was still unsafe. The deceased child, George Reed, attended Heath Lane Board School. He was quite happy at home, and had plenty to eat and everything to make him comfortable. Witness was too poor to bring his wife to the inquest.

Caroline Reed, age 9, sister of deceased, said she left deceased in the town listenuing to the band. He refused to go home with her, and ran away from her in the direction of the brent, where the band were playing. She did not think he was afraid to return home. They were both well treated at home.

George Hill, age 15, of 35, Cowley Street, Shadwell, a barge boy, said on Monday he was on the barge Caroline, off Charlton, and saw what he thought a piece of wood in the water. On going to pick it up, he found it was the body of a boy, and information was sent to the police, who took the body to the dead house at Charlton Cemetery. He was alone on the barge when he noticed the body. He noticed a bruise across the forehead of the child. He had had the 10s. reward.

Police constable Gilham, coroner's officer, deposed to being called to the body, and went to the overseers of Charlton, and had the body removed in a van to the parish deadhouse. Information was circulated by the "police informations" all over London, but they have obtained no response. He then heard a child was missing from Dartford, and on going there was able to get the child identified. He examined the swing-bridge at Dartford, and found it four miles from the Thames, and believed it almost impossible for the body to float or drift from there to Charlton.

Mrs. Gordon, who keeps a shop at 7, Trinity Street, Woolwich, told him that a little boy wearing corduroy trousers was sitting on her doorstep and complained of being hungry, saying his parents were unkind to him at home and that he was going to make away with himself. She told him not to do the latter, she gave him some bread and butter and ginger beer. She could not identify the deceased, and said that she afterwards saw him in Artillery Place, and said to him, "You did not make away with yourself, then?" and he replied, "No; I was not such a fool." Witness did not believe that it was the deceased, there being a little boy named H.... living in Artillery Place, in the habit of going about in that way, sometimes remaining away a month from home. Witness noticed the bruise on the forehead; but could not tell whether it was done during life or after death.

The jury consulted together in private for three quarters of an hour, and then adjourned the jury until 3 Thursday, May 19th, for a post-mortem examination to be made, the attendance of the mother, for the police to make further enquiries, and for publicly to be given the case through the local papers.