Sheffield Evening Telegraph November 4, 1908
Fog Fatalities
Landlady and Lodger drowned
Strange Kilnhurst Cases
The story of a double tragedy of a foggy night was told at Kilnhurst today, Mr D Whiteman, Coroner, at an inquest held over two victims who resided in the same house. They were and Annie Joynes (56), wife of Thomas Joynes, labourer, of the Old Lock House, Swinton, and Arthur Hobbs (23), miner, who lodged there and was a sweetheart of Gertrude Annie Joynes.
In the first case, husband said his wife knew the canal towpath well. He last saw her alive at 7 p.m. on Saturday, when she left home with the intention of paying his club money, which she paid. She returned home, went out again about 9 p.m., but witness did not see her then, as he had been ill and was asleep. Their younger daughter was ill, and deceased fretted about her. He had never heard his wife threaten to commit suicide.
Fred Hinchcliffe, landlord of the Ship Inn, said the deceased came to his house on Saturday night about 9:10 p.m. she was quite sober, and witness did not notice anything unusual about her. About 15 minutes of fear that someone was in the canal. On the way home deceased will have to go by the canal side. She lived about ¼ of a mile from the Ship Inn. Witness had no reason to think there had been foul play stop
William Ainley, Great Centre Railway, signalman, said he was stationed at Kilnhurst Station box. Mark 920 on Saturday was in his box and anything morning noise. He raised the alarm, got some of the station staff down to the box. He thought somebody was in the water.
Joseph Watson, boat builder, Kilnhurst, said he dragged the canal and recovered the body of the deceased which was fully dressed.
A verdict of “Accidentally drowned” was returned.
The other enquiry was relative to Arthur Hobbs (23), a miner, was also drowned on Saturday, and who lodged at the house of the other victim.
Charles Henry Hobbs, miner, of Ackworth, father of the deceased, said deceased was a steady lad, and had to no quarrel with anybody as far as witness new.
Gertrude Annie Joynes, daughter of the deceased in the previous case, said Hobbs had been her sweetheart for four years and a month. He lodged with her parents. She last saw him alive at his home on Saturday about 4 PM and quite expected him back to tea.
He said he was going up the street from his wages, which he drew. He was a staunch teetotaller.
It was a very foggy night, and witness believes that deceased at falling the canal accidentally. Deceased had gone down the canal to see if Mrs Joynes boy was safe.
Witness told him he did not know the boy was with Mrs Joynes, but told him to go the Lock house and enquire. Deceased then set off running.
The fact that Hobbs was missing was not reported to witness until 2 o’clock on Sunday afternoon, although he was at the Lot House again at 11:30. After deceased left-wingers, the latter did not hear any splash.
The Coroner said he did not see that there had been any dereliction of duty by the police for not recovering the body of Hobbs sooner. They were not officially called in until Sunday afternoon and are coming.
The father of the deceased said he did not wish to suggest that the police had not done their duty.
The jury again returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”