Sheffield Independent – Wednesday 24 August 1887
A Swinton Potter Drowned At Kilnhurst
Last evening an inquest was held at Kilnhurst before Mr. Dossey Wightman, Coroner, on the body of Walter Frost, a potter, aged 22, living at Swinton, whose body was found in the canal at Kilnhurst yesterday morning.
After evidence as to the identification of the body, Emma License, wife of James License, collier, Kilnhurst, said she knew the deceased, and saw him last alive ; three other young men were with, him. Deceased was drunk, and the young men were trying to get him to the station. There was no quarrelling. They were going towards the M. S. and L. Bailway. It was a trip train from Grimsby to Cleethorpes that they wanted to put him in. Where the deceased was found drowned was quite a contrary way to where he was supposed to be going.
In reply to the Coroner, the policemen said the young man who were with the deceased at the time he was last seen were not, he thought, in Kilnhurst that afternoon ; probably they might have gone away with some of the fishing excursions, or might be at Rawmarsh Feast.
The witness, continuing, said she had seen one of the young men (Tom Stych) since the occurrence, and he stated that he left the deceased on the canal bridge near the station because he would not go or do anything. The deceased had 2 ½ d in his pocket, and he said he would spend it, but the public houses were closed. It was at twelve o’clock when the excursion train passed in the direction of Swinton.
In answer to the Coroner, the policeman conducting the inquiry said the body was found at eight o’olock yesterday morning. He then gave evidence, stating his name was Police- constable Thornton. A man named Wm. Beevers, who was in charge of a boat, and others, assisted in getting the body out of the water. The deceased was quite dead. He was well-dressed, but had only 2 ½ d. in his pocket. There were no marks of violence on the body, and he did not at all think there had been any foul play.
The Coroner thought, in all probability the deceased had got confused, being in drink, and had gone in the direction of Rotherham instead of towards Swinton, where his home was.
A juryman pointed out the danger which attended the traversing of the path from Roundwood to Kilnhurst, and he thought it ought to be fenced.
Another juryman said that was ridiculous; any place on the canal side was dangerous for a drunken man.
The Coroner thought the towing path was more dangerous as the water was deeper that side of the canal.
The policeman said it was not a public path where the deceased had gone.
The Coroner said there would be more force in the remark about the danger if the deceased had been sober and had been walking from the Thrybergh Hall Colliery, which was close by.
A verdict of ” Found drowned, but as to how deceased fell into the water there is no evidence to show,” was returned.