Taunton Courier 06 Apr 1870 Death Drowning Taunton SPRAGUE alias Billy Barlow Mother Josephine Discovered by THORNE and Joseph VIRGIN North Town Wells Lunatic Asylum

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The Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 06 Apr 1870

Page 6 Column 2


DEATH FROM DROWNING AT TAUNTON.

On Sunday morning last the body of a man named SPRAGUE, alias “Billy Barlow,” - an itinerant vendor of nuts and oranges, well known at local markets and fairs – was discovered in the river Tone at Obridge weir. He was last seen on Friday night in Castle Green, where he had been plying his trade. The body was discovered by a railway porter, named THORNE, and a man named VIRGIN, but instead of at once getting it out, in order to ascertain whether life was extinct, they fetched Mr Superintendent GOLDSMITH. The poor fellow has been in a lunatic asylum, and it is conjectured that he might have destroyed himself.

An inquest was held on the body on Wednesday, at the Red Lion beer-house, East Reach, before W. W. MUNCKTON, Esq., coroner, when the following evidence was adduced:

Joseph VIRGIN stated that he was a labourer, residing in North town. He knew the deceased. About half past ten o'clock on Sunday morning he was walking on the wall at Obridge weir, when he saw a man lying at the bottom of the water. He asked a railway porter, named THORNE, who was with him, if he had better take out the body, and he advised that a policeman should be sent for, and both went for Mr GOLDSMITH. On taking out the body he saw that it was the deceased. There were no marks of violence about it.

Mr Superintendent GOLDSMITH said that he was fetched by last witness and THORNE on Sunday, and on getting to Obridge he saw the body of a man in the back water, the depth being about six feet. He was taken out quite dead, and no marks of violence were apparent.

Josephine, the mother of the deceased, deposed that her son was 33 years of age. He lived with her, and came home about three o'clock on Saturday morning. When she got up he had left the house. He had been to the Wells Lunatic Asylum for a month a short time since. He was very violent, but never threatened to destroy himself. Since then he was very resolute, and would stay away for two or three days and nights.

A verdict of “Found drowned” was returned.


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