From the Kentish Chronicle, 15 September, 1860.

THE DEATH BY DROWNING NEAR RAMSGATE.

The death of Robert Goodchild, of Ramsgate has caused some excitement in that town, and also in the neighbourhood of the place were the body was found, at Word, near Sandwich. Mr. Delasaux held the inquest on Wednesday, at the "Hare and Hounds," Word.

The first witness was Michael Cort, coastguard at No. 2 Battery, who said:— I was on duty on Tuesday morning, when I saw the body of the deceased washed ashore by the tide. I called assistance, find placed it in a shed near at hand. He was quite dead. He was apparently a strong powerful man. The eyes of the deceased were shut and much swollen. There was a cut over one eye, and a bruise near the right ear. His upper lip was also swollen. His guernsey was partly out of his trousers.

Robert Reading stated that he belonged to Ramsgate, and on the 30th instant was in the Downs, on board a schooner, and there saw the deceased, who was a strong, powerful man. He and Baker appeared on good terms. They put in at Deal, and having stayed there a little time put back again. He afterwards heard of the loss of the deceased, by his having accidentally fallen into the water. Baker was near at the time, and he said that the deceased never rose to the surface. They were both perfectly sober. Witness was well acquainted with coast, and he was of opinion that if the deceased had fallen overboard at the place indicated by Baker, his body would have floated in where it was found.

Mr. Emmerson, surgeon, of Sandwich, said that the body of deceased—which was putrefying—had been submitted to his inspection, and presented no external appearance of injury. He was of opinion that the deceased met his death by drowning.

Samuel Baker stated:— I belong to Ramsgate. I left the harbour on the day in question with the deceased, and after doing our business we went to Deal. On our return a brief dispute arose between the deceased and Reading about the wages due to the latter, which ended in Reading being put ashore. The deceased seemed angry with Reading. We two then proceeded in the direction of Ramsgate. Deceased offered to take a turn at the oar. He then went to the side of the vessel and stood up, and almost immediately after fell overboard on the larboard quarter. I backed my oars, but I could not see anything of him. I remained till I believed he could not come up again, and then I proceeded to Ramsgate and made my boat fast to the pier. A policeman asked me what had happened to the deceased, and I made him acquainted with the circumstances. The deceased went to the side of the ship for a natural purpose, and he almost immediately fell overboard.

George Young, a coastguard, gave similar testimony to that of the first witness concerning the state of the body when washed ashore.

The Coroner summed up the evidence very minutely, pointing out that the bruise on the body were easily to be accounted for by the fact that it had been washing about in the water for nearly a week.

The Jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of "Accidental death."

From the Kentish Chronicle, 11 July, 1863.

UNCLE VERSES NEPHEW.

Stephen Wanstall, an elderly man living at Worth, summoned his nephew, John Wyburn, fur an assault, alleged to have been committed on the previous Sunday. Complainant's statement went to show that he had been badly used by his nephew, who he alleged “’bused” him “auful,” and “bat” him three or four times. Defendant and his witnesses, on the other hand, urged that the complainant was the aggressor. The old man had, it appeared lately become the possessor of the “Hare and Hounds Inn” at Worth, which his sister, the defendant’s mother, inhabited, and was desirous of getting her out of the place. A discussion on this subject caused the son to interfere, and hence the case before the magistrates.

Dismissed.