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From the Dover Telegraph, 24 January 1863 Dover.bmp"
DEATH BY DROWNING.
On Monday evening a respectable Jury assembled at Epps's "Union tavern," Palmerston Bridge (before H. Payn, Esq., Coroner for the Borough and Liberties;
to investigate the circumstances attending the death of a labourer named William
Adams. The jury, having been sworn, proceeded to the dead-house, to which the
body had been conveyed by Sergeant Geddes and p.c. Connor, upon its recovery
from the Pent water, on Saturday evening.
Having returned to the inquest-room, the first witness called was:— Charles
White, a labourer, working at the "reservoir" for Messrs. Fry and Pepper, who,
being sworn, said:- I first knew deceased last Christmas twelve month, by
working with him at East Tilbury, Essex; he always went by the name of "Jack"
and worked as a labourer. He worked upon the Heights, but I do not know who for.
I believe his age wad about 18.
Sergeant Back stated that Messrs. Lee’s foreman (Russell) had identified the
body as that of Wm. Adams, from the circumstance of his having lost three
fingers of the left hand.
Evidence resumed:- Deceased called for me about seven o’clock on Saturday
evening, and we went to a clothier's shop to purchase a smock. We then came on
to the skittle alley at the back of the "Tradesman's Arms," to meet some of his
mates. Passing from Snargate Street through Barley-mow Lane, we crossed to the
door of the house, but not being able to get in deceased said "Lets go round the
back way:" he turned to the left, and I followed him. I had not been to the
house before, and did not know the way. After he passed round the corner, I
followed about three yards behind him. and I saw him step over the quay.
By the Coroner:- Did you have to get under any chain?
No, the chain was down.
Evidence resumed:- I called for help to the shipwrights who were working a
little way off, and they came round as soon as they could, but before anyone
came he was drowned. As he went over he cried out "Oh dear! I did not hear him
again after the splash.
By the Coroner:- It was not so dark but deceased could be seen, I have been to
the place since, and lave seen the hook in the wall, but the chain was hanging
down.
By a juror:- We were both perfectly sober, and had only been into the clothier’s
shop.
Evidence resumed:- The shipwrights came in a boat, and were the first on the
spot; they got grapnels as soon as they could. I remained on the spot till they
found the body; it was nearly an hour from the time he fell in.
By the Coroner:- Did any one on shore try to get any grapnels?
Yes, a man ran to a passage where they used to hang, but they were not there.
Did you hear the man say they were kept there?
Yes, sir.
If he had found them would the grapnels have been there before the shipwrights?
I believe they would.
Thomas Ovenden, mariner:- On Saturday night about eight o’clock, a lad who was
at work on the outside of the "Annabel," said there was a man over just by Mr.
Mowll’s store. I immediately jumped into the boat, and skulled away to the spot,
Wm. Gillespie, who was aboard with me, went to get the drags, and a woman who
lived in the passage said she had a hook and gave it to him. A boat-hook was
sent me from the "Lucy," and with this I caught deceased by his jacket. It was
about three-quarters of an hour after I first tried.
By the Coroner:- The drags have always been kept in that passage for years.
By the Foreman:- I do not know who has the charge of the drags — whether it is
the Harbour authorities or the police. In the north of England it is the Harbour
authorities.
Sergeant Back:- The Humane Society used to pay a man to look after them.
By the Coroner:- Was the man quite dead when you got him up?
Well. I thought he was warm, and so did Gillespie; but three quarters of an hour
had elapsed.
Do you believe you would have recovered him sooner if you had got the hooks?
Yes — probably; but I do not think the hooks are strong enough to be good for
anything. It was the boat-hook that we recovered him with; the first time we got
up a sack containing about l00cwt. of coals. I helped carry deceased to the
dead-house.
By the Coroner:- It is my belief the present hooks are of very little use; they
want renewing, and want longer ropes to them.
P.c. Corrie took from the pockets of deceased two purses containing 2s. 8d., a
tobacco-box, a pipe, and two oranges.
The Coroner, in summing up, remarked upon the chain not being fastened alter the
labours of the day at the coal wharf were over; but assuming that the deceased
imagined that was the wav he thought he knew, he would probably have lifted the
chain. It seemed, however, under any circumstances, a very dreadful thing that a
young and strong man like the deceased should lose his life in the way he had
done in the carefully-guarded town of Dover. With reference to the drags he
should be happy to forward any communication the jury might think fit to the
proper officers.
A juror (to Ovenden):- Those drags have been accustomed to hang in York passage
a great many years, have they not? I can remember them six or seven and twenty
years.
By the Coroner:- We could have got those drags in about two minutes, had they
been in their place.
Verdict:- "Accidental Death," and a request that the Coroner would communicate
with the Harbour officials, &c.
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(Union Street)