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fARM LABOURERS DEATH AT 1…

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fARM LABOURERS DEATH AT 1 MIMSLEY. ,Found Drowned in Pridowood Pool. I OnWednesday last at the Parish Hall, .Ashperton, an inquest was held on the body of John Mitchell, who was found drowned in a pool at Pridewood, Aehperton, on Monday morning. Deceased was a Canadian by birth, and he came over to this country many yeats ago as a bootmaker and farm labourer. Mr T Hutchinson (Coroner), conducted the enquiry, and the Rev A H Knapp was appointed foreman over the following jury Messrs E Pritchett, J Townsend, W IE Byde, T Da vies, E Boaz, F Cowell, J Workman, A Cheshire, H Baggott, F Pratt, and E Ward. The first witness called upon was Mrs Mary Boyle, widow, of Trumpet Cottage, who identified the body as that of Mitchell, also of the Trumpet Cottage. Proceeding, she said he -was a farm labourer, believed to be about 50 yards of age. He had lost his wife just before Christmas last, and she came as his housekeeper. Deceased had no relations in this country and he was of Canadian birth. She last saw him .alive at about 16.30 on Sunday night. He went oat of the cottage and said he would not be < more than half-an-hour and she asked him where he was going. He told her that he was going to see the boss." He was cheerful and appeared in good health. He felt very upset about the loss of his wife. Deceased told witness that if he kept on brooding he would be where his wife was. He had told her he was going to see his boss "—meaning probably Mr Guy Pritchett. He left in tho direction of where his body was found. Witness waited up for him till 2 Oclook in the morning. Walter Hands, of the White House, Aylton, said that on Sunday he met the dooeàsed at the Oak Inn, Munsiey, .at quarter to nine, and be left at half-past nine, accompanied by witness, who went with hiat;a part. of the way home. Deceased told him he was going to Pride wood. He appeared sober and in his usual health and witness left him at the turning to go up to Pridewood. George Grant, who lives at Pridewood, said he saw deceased in the hopyard, when he said he di4 not feol very well. He also said that he would not be very long before he was lying beside .-his late wife. He appeared a little depressed. Both witness and deceased had been working together for years, and it seemed to witness that since his wife's death deceased's mind had been affected. Richard Grant, grooni and gardener, in the employ of 1Ilr Guy Pritchett, said that on Mon- day last be was going to feed the fowls, when ho saw a hat lyang near the pool and on the side of the pool he saw the body. He informed the police at once. William Joseph Griffin, police constable, stationed at Pistley, said that on Monday last from information received, he went with Grant to Pridewood pool, and there he found the body ot the deceased. He was lying on his back in about 18 inches of water, and he pulled the body out to the bpaak. The pool was cleaned out two years ago. Mr Pritchett: The water is about four feet deep. Continuing, P.O. Griffin said he traced the deceased's footprints round the buildings at Pridewood and up to the pool. It was a dark night and there was footpath about 15 yards from the pool, with which he was well acquainted The Coroaer said the pool was 30 yards wide, and the body was found on the opposite side. Rev Knapp; Was bis face in the water ? P.C. Griffin; The end of his nose was just above the water. The Coroner: He didn't call at Pridewood, but the pool is in the direction of his home. P.C. Griffin- I applied artificial respiration to some extent, but without success. la summing up the Coroner, said that it seemed to him that nobody had heard Mitchell say anything about doing away with himself. He evidently started with the intention of see- ing Mr Guy Pritchett, but he could not have called there. The Police Officer had traeed his footprints behind the building up to the pool, which was about 2 feet deep. It was a dark night and he might have stepped over the bank and pitched forward and been drowned. But then they had got to remember that there was

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fARM LABOURERS DEATH AT 1…