Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 12 October 1888

Inquest on a Swinton Butcher.

On Monday night Mr. Dewey Wightman held an inquiry at the Station Inn, Swinton, touching the death of Henry Catton, 50, butcher, Swinton Bridge, who was found drowned in the canal near Manvers Main on Saturday afternoon.

Geo. Cotton, a butcher, living at Swinton, said he was the brother of deceased, who was 60 years old last birthday, and was also a butcher. Witness last saw him alive on Tuesday morning, the 2nd. October. Deceased had been a poorly man for a long time; he had been subject to epileptic fits. The last one witness could remember was about three months ago. He was also subject to occasional giddiness. Witness had not the slightest reason to suspect foul play ; he believed that his brother had walked in the canal accidentally, He was blind of one eye, and his eyesight generally was bad. When he went to Wath to see his sister he used to go on the canal bank. There were found on him his spectacles, pocket handkerchief, and £2 6s. 7d., and that made witness think he had not been robbed.

Sarah Race, sister-in-law to deceased, said she lived at Wath. Deceased was at her house on Tuesday the 2nd October and left about 6.15 p.m. to go, as he said, to the Midland station at Wath, and that would be for the purpose of riding to Swinton. Witness could not say whether deceased missed his train or not. Witness had known him walk along the canal home but that was in the daytime. It was getting dark when he left her house. Probably he was too late for the train and then thought he would walk home. He was quite sober, and never was in better spirits. She believed he had not committed suicide, but that he had fallen in accidentally. His eyesight was not good. He stayed an hour and quarter with her, and had tea.

John Gibbon, said he lived at Swinton Bridge, and was a labourer He did not know deceased, but found him in the canal on Saturday the 6th about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, about 300 yards from the Swinton side of Manvers Main colliery. Witness pulled him from the bottom with some hooks. Ile had been dragging on Thursday for him, and they came again on Saturday morning. Witness had no idea how deceased got in.

Police-constable Jessop said £2 6s. 7d. were found on deceased and a pair of spectacles.

The Coroner said the great value of that evidence was that it showed that the deceased had not been robbed. He was suffering from defective eyesight, fits and giddiness, and in the darkness anyone of these causes may have brought about temporary forgetfulness during which he might have fallen into the water. There was no suspicion of foul play?

Police-constable Jessop : No, sir.

The jury returned a verdict of “Accidentally drowned.”