Newton Abbot: Painful Death by Drowning: An inquest was held the Railway Inn, by H. Michelmore, Esq., coroner, on Saturday night, on the body of old man named James Boarder, between 70 and 80 years of age, who was found drowned in the river Lemon. The deceased was a labourer in the employ of Mr. Pinsent, of Weir Farm, Kingsteignton. Between six and seven o’clock on Wednesday night last he left his home at Kingsteignton for the purpose of seeing Mr. Whiteway, solicitor, of Newton, respecting some business matters of Lord Clifford’s. On his way to Newton, he called at a house near the Hockney Canal, and had some conversation with a clay-cutter named Gaye. He was in good spirits, and quite sober when he left. Just afterwards, he was met by Miss Rhoda Short whom he wished “Good night.” He was not seen alive afterwards. Not returning home, his wife, aged 84, became alarmed, and on the following day enquiries were made, but no news could be gleaned respecting him. On Saturday morning Jas. Burrows and another man searched for him in the river Lemon, which he would have had to cross by a bridge on his way to Newton. As this river was not fenced on either side of the bridge it was thought he had walked in and had drowned. This appeared to have been the case, as his body was found in the river near Mr. Webber’s sawmills. The jury returned a verdict of “accidental death.”
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Referenced
GRO0369 Hennock: Gilbert Pinsent: 1840 – 1918