From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 27 December, 1867.

DEATH BY DROWNING

On Monday last an inquest was held before W. H. Payn, Esq., Coroner, at the "Union Tavern," Union Street, on the body of Edward Knott, who met his death by drowning on the previous Friday afternoon. The following evidence was taken:- William Knott, on his oath, said: I am a porter, and reside in Dover. The deceased, Edward Knott, was my brother; he was a labourer. I last saw him alive on Friday morning, about eleven o'clock, in Limekiln Street, he appeared well and quite sober. I spoke to him, and he said he was going to Mr. Page's brewhouse. He was 47 years of age. I know nothing of the circumstances attending his death.

Richard Langley was next called, and deposed as follows: I am a carrier residing at Buckland. I knew the deceased Edward Knott. On Friday afternoon, at four o'clock the deceased went in my cart to Northampton Quay, for the purpose of loading it with coals. I placed the card some distance from the quay, in front of the coals, which were near the edge. He got down, and I went to attend to the horse. I looked round after the deceased, and found he had gone. Thinking he had given me the slip I employed another man to load the coals. The deceased appeared to have been drinking slightly.

Robert Thomas Walker was then examined. He said: I am a mariner, residing in Dover. On Saturday morning the last witness came to me, and said he thought the deceased had fallen overboard. I went immediately and fetched the grapnel, and began dragging the Pent near the Racket Court. In about an hour I hooked the body of the deceased, and pulled it onto the Quay. I gave information to the police, and the deceased was taken to the dead-house. There appeared no marks of violence with the exception of a small scratch on the forehead, which was likely done my the grapnel.

George Raymond, a Police-constable of the borough, deposed: On Saturday morning about nine o'clock information was given me from Mr. Page's brewery that the deceased Edward Knott, who had been in the habit of regularly coming to their brewhouse, was absent; and that they had been round to his home, and ascertained that he had not been home all night, and that he had been loading coals the previous afternoon on Northampton Quay. I then got permission to have the harbour dragged, and about noon I was informed that the body had been found. I went to the Quay, and had the deceased removed on a stretcher to the dead house. I searching the deceased, I found a pipe, handkerchief, and 3d., which I now produce. There appeared no marks of violence on the body.

Verdict: "Found Drowned."