From the Folkestone Chronicle 27 July, 1861. Transcribed by Jan Pedersen.

CORONER'S INQUEST

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon at the "Lord Nelson Inn," Radnor Street, before S. Eastes Esq., coroner for the borough, and a respectable jury of which F. Denibas was chosen foreman. The enquiry was held on the body of a man which was found as detailed in the following evidence.

The jury, having been sworn, proceeded to view the body, which was lying in the tan house. The coroner, in opening the proceedings, said he felt bound to hold the inquest from the concluding words on a piece of paper which showed a determination to commit suicide in his opinion; he had at first thought it not necessary, but to remove any responsibility from himself he had determined to make the enquiry.

James Grant, fisherman, residing in Folkestone, identified the body as that of a man he brought ashore yesterday. About half past three witness went off in a punt alone, and about quarter of a mile off the harbour saw the body of a man floating; witness rowed to it, put a rope round it, and towed it into the harbour. Deceased had clothes on, but no hat nor cap, and only one slipper on his left foot; no stockings. Saw no marks of violence on him; judged him to be a French fisherman from his dress; should think he had been in the water eight or ten days; as soon as witness came to shore he gave information to the Coroner, who desired him to have it removed to the tan house; had heard the body was floating out at sea, and went out on purpose to find it.

William Woodland, P.C., deposed, yesterday afternoon, about half past three, found the dead body of a man lying on the beach, covered up with a sail; witness had it removed to the tan house.

Thomas Morford, town sergeant, deposed, about half past six last evening he first saw the body of deceased lying in the tan house; in looking at the body witness found he had earrings, and by request of the Coroner he searched the body; he searched the pockets, and found the leather purse produced in the left hand trousers pocket; it contained three gold 20 franc pieces, 2 ten franc pieces, 3 five franc pieces, a two franc and one franc piece, and 20 centimes, one shilling (English) and a paper with something written on it; the earrings were very small ones. He was dressed in a flannel jacket next the skin, a pink plaid shirt with white enamelled buttons, a good blue Guernsey of English manufacture, trousers of coarse grey cloth, light coloured, no stockings, and one cloth sock on the left foot, similar to those worn by the peasantry in France. The man was about 5 feet 9 or 10 inches, with dark brown whiskers, no moustache, bald headed about the front part; thought he was about 45 years of age; the face was disfigured.

Copy of the letter written in French:-

“On board the lugger Young Charles, of Nantes, Captain Peron. I can tell the number. I have taken my turn at an early hour (two lines not intelligible). Farewell for ever. Pray for me.” (no name).

The coroner thought from the paper that he appeared to have destroyed himself.

The jury returned a verdict of “Found drowned”, no evidence being forthcoming as to the cause of death.

The French Consul had intimated to Mr. Eastes that he intended to follow the body to the grave, being a French citizen. Part of the money found would be devoted to paying for a plain coffin, and the Consul intended to write to Nantes to make enquiry respecting the lugger “Young Charles”, and also respecting any person being missing from the vessel.

From the Folkestone Chronicle 31 January, 1863. Transcribed by Jan Pedersen.

CORONER'S INQUEST

An inquest was holden on Thursday last before John Minter Esq., the coroner, and a respectable jury, at the "Lord Nelson Inn," touching the death of William Hall.

Thomas Hall deposed he was a mariner, residing at Folkestone. He identified the body as that of his son from his clothes and from wearing a silver ring on his finger.

Edward loach deposed he was a mariner, living at East Cliff, Folkestone. He went alongshore last evening, and found a flannel shirt on the sand, in East Wear Bay, about a quarter of a mile from where he found the body. He took the shirt to the last witness this morning; witness went along shore to search for the deceased, and found it abreast of Copt Point, on the rocks, one arm being jammed in the rocks. Witness helped put the deceased in a hammock; found a ring on deceased's finger, which witness gave to Mr. Hall.

William Henry Bradley deposed he was a timekeeper in the employ of the South Eastern Railway Company; knew the deceased; saw him on Monday the 29th December about 5 minutes past 9 a.m.; saw him leave the blacksmith's shop on the new pier, Folkestone, and jump over the railings, and saw him go into the sea at the west side of the pier, and get astride a piece of timber floating close to the shore; he had a cord or line in his hand. Directly he got on the timber it turned round three times; he went under each time, but got on the timber again; he next got off the timber and swam towards the pier, apparently to get away from the timber; the piece at the same time gave a half turn and struck him on the head; deceased called out, I believe “Life-buoy”. Witness sent a man for a life buoy and tried to throw it out, but could not for the wind. Witness then saw deceased sink; the sea was unusually rough.

The jury returned a verdict that deceased was accidentally drowned.