KNOTTINGLEY INQUEST REPORTS

FROM THE WAKEFIELD ARCHIVES

Ref: C493 - K2/1/32 number 1674
Inquest into the death of CHARLES DRAPER, 24th May 1869, at the house of Mary Marshall, Three Horse Shoes Inn, Ferry Fryston.

Benjamin Draper of Fishergate, Ferrybridge an Earthenware plate maker says:
Deced was 5 years old and my son. He has always been strong and active. Yesterday morning he went to school and afterwards got his dinner. I then went out to the Island being the narrow slip of land between the River Aire and Aire & Calder Canal. About 5 or 10 minutes after going across the lock gates to the Island I returned home and got my dinner. My wife asked me whether I had seen deced as he had gone to call me in. She went out about 5 minutes afterwards and I followed. I went again to the lock gates and saw Thos Link take deced's cap out of the canal about 100 yards off the lock, the cloughs of which were being opened as I was going to the Island. The cap had been first seen in the lock and went through the clough. There is a footboard on the top of the lock gates with a rail. There is not a footpath over the canal.

Charles Endeacott of Fishergate a Blacksmith says:
I married deced's aunt. Yesterday morning I saw deced about 9 o'clock. About 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon I was at home and heard his father call out. I went to the canal side and saw deced's cap. A man about 150 yards further down called out that the body was there. I ran with a boat hook and took out deced's body which was floating down the canal with the face downwards. I carried the body home. There was not any mark of violence about it.

Verdict: Accidentally drowned.

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