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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 25 Apr 1934
Page 3 Column 10
FOUND DROWNED.
TAUNTON PENSIONER'S DEATH
GLOVECUTTER'S UNUSUAL STORY.
SIX WEEKS' OLD MYSTERY PARTIALLY SOLVED.
The mystery of an old age pensioner's disappearance from his lodgings in Wood-street, Taunton, six weeks ago, was partially solved by the recovery of his body from the River Ton on Saturday night, but at the inquest on Monday the evidence was insufficient to determine how the deceased entered the water, and the Coroner, Mr. Geoffrey P. CLARKE, returned an open verdict.
The man, Henry LETHEBY, aged 66, was a well-known figure in the town, and before his retirement some years ago was a jobbing gardener.
The inquest took place at the Ring of Bells Inn, St. James-street.
NO WORRIES.
William LETHEBY, civil servant, of Goldhurst-terrace, West Hampstead, S.W.6., son of deceased, said his father had been incapacitated for the past five or six years, prior to which he was gardener to the Hon. Mrs. PORTMAN, of Hestercombe. Witness last saw him at Whitsuntide, 1933.
Albert Edward MANLEY, motor driver, of 66, Wood-street, Taunton, said deceased had resided with him for about two years. Witness last saw him at 2.10 p.m., Friday, March 9th, when he was in bed. He had been ailing from some time and witness tried to persuade him to call in a doctor. On March 4th witness obtained a bottle of medicine for him, and the doctor called when deceased was out – the day before he disappeared. Deceased had been in the habit of going out for an hour or two each afternoon. He had had a cold and seemed depressed, but never threatened to take his life. He had no financial or other worries.
SEEN NEAR THE RIVER.
Herbert George OAKSFORD, glove-cutter, of 5, Fairwater-terrace, Taunton, said on Friday afternoon, March 9th, while at his work in Messrs. TAYLOR's factory, he looked out of the window in the direction of French Weir and about 50 yards away he saw LETHEBY, whom he knew fairly well. Another workman remarked that he was acting strangely. After a lady had passed him, near the second stile, he went to the river. Several men opened the windows and told him to clear off. Witness saw him go towards CLAPP's Garden, and he appeared to go off the public path down the bank.
The Coroner: When did you first hear he had disappeared? - A few days later, from the Press.
At the point mentioned, said witness, in reply to the Coroner, the bank was rather steep. If anyone left the footpath he would probably fall into the water.
The Coroner: How did he appear to leave the path? Did he give a jump? - Oh, no, just in an ordinary way. He was acting funny and did not appear to be too safe on his legs.
How long was it from the time your workmates called your attention to him to the time he disappeared over the bank? - About ten minutes.
CORONER “PUZZLED.”
Witness added that LETHEBY was wearing a dark coat and cap. He had known him thirty years and had been in his company many times.
The Coroner: I am still a little bit puzzled about the shouts of “Clear off.” What did you think he was doing?
Witness: We certainly all thought he was going to get into the water. He was very suspicious. He would look into the water, walk back a little way and then look over the bank again. When they shouted to him I suppose he thought it was time to clear away.
Mr. LETHEBY said it was quite a general habit of his father to walk to and fro. He would walk about aimlessly, having nothing to do, and perhaps to an onlooker would appear to be acting strangely, when really he had nothing strange in his mind.
The Coroner (to Mr. OAKSFORD): When did you first tell the police what you saw?
Witness: On the following Sunday week.
In reply to the Coroner, P.S. HANHAM said there were no marks at the point indicated by Mr. OAKSFORD when witness examined it.
Dr. Godfrey CARTER, the well-known pathologist, who had performed a post-mortem examination, gave a report on his findings, and said there were no marks of injury or violence. The cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning.
RECOVERY OF BODY.
John Charles William ARNOLD, insurance official, living at the Sewage Works, Taunton, stated on Saturday evening he was walking along the riverside at Swan's Neck, when his companion, a man named BISHOP, pointed to something in the water. They discovered it was the body of a man, and informed the police. The spot was midway between the old Bathpool Mills and the sewage works plant.
The Coroner: It would be possible for a man who had fallen in at French Weir to have been carried there, about a mile and a-half, in five or six weeks? - I cannot say. He would have to pass four lots of sluices.
P.S. HANHAM (Taunton) stated on March 9th the disappearance of deceased was reported at the Police Office, and daily observation was kept on the river. On March 17 th witness interviewed Mr. OAKSFORD, and he indicated from the factory window a spot on the river bank, which witness inspected. For a length of 70 or 80 yards there was a straight drop into the water, which was very deep. On Saturday evening, after receiving a communication from Mr. ARNOLD, witness recovered the body, which was lying face downwards in about six feet of water.
In reply to the Coroner, P.S. HANHAM said it was impossible for a person to run straight across the field from Messrs. TAYLOR's factory to the river bank. He would have to make a big detour round the factory to the road, and also climbe several fences to get to the river
“THE SAFE VERDICT.”
The Coroner, in his summing up, referred to the fact that the doctor called five minutes after deceased had gone out on the day before his disappearance, and said there appeared to have been a misunderstanding. He seemed to have been well looked after at his lodgings. Dealing with the evidence of Mr. OAKSFORD, the Coroner said: “If one had been able to go straight across to the river bank, in view of what had been seen and the fact that for ten minutes the man had been behaving in such an extraordinary fashion, one might have been tempted to say: 'Shall I go over to see what has happened?' On the other hand, I am told it was some way round and he (Mr OAKSFORD) was going on with his work. Probably at that time he did not realise the river bank was so steep, although some of the people in the factory were rather inclined to think the man was going into the water. If they did think he had disappeared into the water, I think they might have rushed there as soon as possible and reported the matter at once. However, Mr. OAKSFORD did not think any more about it until he read of the man's disappearance a few days afterwards. The evidence points very strongly to the fact that this was not an accident, but, on the other hand, there is no really conclusive evidence of suicide. I think, in all the circumstances, the safest verdict to return is an open one – that death was due to drowning, but that there is insufficient evidence to show how he came to enter the water.”
The Coroner expressed sympathy with the relatives, and Mr. LETHEBY suitably responded.