From the Folkestone Chronicle 18 October 1856. Transcribed by Jan Pedersen.

FOLKESTONE INQUESTS

An inquest was holden at the "Martello Tavern", Dover Road, on Monday, 13th inst., before S. Easter esq., coroner, and a respectable jury, on the body of Patrick Bannan, late a lance sergeant in the 40th Foot. The jury having been sworn proceeded to view the body which was lying in a carriage shed near the upper railway station. On the jury's return the first witness examined was –

George Houghton, who being sworn, deposed he was a switchman employed on the railway, and on Sunday 9th (sic) inst., he was near the reservoir nearest Dover, on the line of railway, when he saw the body of deceased floating in the water. Witness obtained assistance and got the body out. Saw no marks of any wounds or bruises about the body: there was mud on the face, evidently from the bottom of the reservoir. The body was dressed in a soldier's red tunic, and dark trousers – it was a private soldier's dress. Had never seen the person before to his knowledge. Never knew a person drowned in the reservoir before.

Richard Hart, being sworn, deposed he was a brakesman on the S.E.R. On Sunday about 20 minutes to 5 witness was going down to the harbour on a break when he was called by the last witness, and told there was a body in the reservoir. Witness returned and assisted by a stoker got the body out. There were no marks of violence on the body, but observed mud which appeared to come from the bottom of the reservoir. There was about 10 feet of water in it.

Stephen Burbridge deposed, he was colour-sergeant in the 40th Regiment, now stationed at Shorncliffe. Had see the body of deceased and identified it as the body of Partick Hannan, a lance-sergeant in the same regiment, from the scar of a wound which deceased had received in one of the rifle pits in the Crimea. Saw deceased alive last at about 9 o'clock on the 4th instant, at the camp at Shorncliffe. Witness spoke to him; the were in the men's room of the non-commissioned officers. Deceased had a private soldier's coat on, which attracted witness' attention; he seemed quite well, and in his usual spirits, but was not quite sober. Deceased was missed about 11 o'clock the next morning, the 5th; witness however heard he had been at Dover on the Sunday morning. Knew nothing to lead him to suppose deceased had committed suicide. He was about 26 or 27 years of age, and had been about 7 or 8 years in the regiment. Deceased had left his own coat, with his medal and clasps, at the camp.

This being the whole of the evidence the jury returned an open verdict of “found drowned”, with a strong recommendation to the South Eastern Railway Company to have a sufficient fence erected round the reservoir, to prevent a recurrence of a like accident in the future.

From the Folkestone Chronicle 21 February, 1863. Transcribed by Jan Pedersen.

CORONER'S INQUEST

On Monday last an inquest was holden at the "Martello Tavern," before the Coroner, John Minter Esq., and a respectable jury, of which Mr. John Dunk was chosen foreman, on view the body of William Mercer, aged nine years, the son of Mr. Richard Mercer, carpenter, residing at 4, Martello Terrace.

The first witness was Richard Mercer, the father of the deceased; he deposed that deceased was his son, and was nine years of age. On Sunday, about 9 o'clock, my wife sent him to his bedroom for punishment, no dinner being sent up to him; about 5 o'clock witness sent up some bread and butter to him, which he ate; at half past 7 witness's daughter went upstairs and he shortly after heard her say “Bill, get up”; she then called out “I can't wake Bill”. Witness then went up and found deceased lying on his side on the floor; he was insensible; took him downstairs; witness's wife then knelt down beside him and said “He has been drinking”: there was a full bottle of sherry in the parlour cupboard, and witness found that about a pint of it was gone; deceased was kept before the fire until about 10 o'clock rubbing his feet; he was insensible the whole time; witness then called in Mr. Hooper, a medical man in the neighbourhood; deceased died on Monday, between 11 and 12 o'clock.

Edward Evan Hooper deposed he was a surgeon residing in Folkestone; he was called to see deceased by the last witness on Sunday night about a quarter past ten; he found deceased lying in his mother's lap insensible; the symptoms exhibited by the deceased showed a pressure on the brain; witness applied the stomach pump in consequence of being told that he had drunk a quantity of sherry wine; that which came from his stomach smelt strongly of wine. Witness used various remedies and remained with him until 12 o'clock – deceased remained insensible, but his pulse got better; saw him again on Monday morning when he appeared much the same; there appeared symptoms of congestion of the brain, and he gradually sank and died. Witness considered deceased's death to be caused by taking an excessive quantity of wine.

A verdict in accordance with the above medical evidence was returned.