A sad case indeed !

 

An inquest on an unknown man found drowned in the upper reaches of the River Stort near Lord Blyth’s new farm was held at the Central Hall, Stansted, on the Friday.

Winifred Wells (16) said that she had seen the deceased walking beside the river towards Bishop’s Stortford at 7pm, and Mrs Matilda Ramsey said that she had seen the body face downwards in a foot of water at 9pm and had then called Alfred Rider who had retrieved the body from the water.

Police Constable Theobald found 14s 8d on the body, together with a handkerchief with a corner cut off, apparently to prevent identification.  Some of the clothing was marked “W.W.” and some “E.W. 63 R”.

A verdict of “Found drowned” was returned.

On the Monday, however, Mrs Susan Wilson, widow, of Rock Road, Royston, attended at the Central Hall and was shown the deceased’s clothes.  She immediately identified them as having been worn by her son, Edward Wilson (29), formerly a barman, who, until last September, had been living with her at West Road, Saffron Walden, and then afterwards at Royston.  He had left home on the Wednesday morning and had apparently travelled to Stansted, via Cambridge, by the train, reaching there at approximately 6 pm.  He had been ill for several months with paralysis, and was regarded as incurable.  He had not been in financial difficulties.

The deceased was buried in the old churchyard at Stansted on the Saturday afternoon.