South Yorkshire Times, June 16th, 1951
Charged With “Certain Offences”
Conisbrough Miner’s Body Found in River Don
After a man had been charged by Conisbrough police on May 25th with certain offences, he disappeared. Twelve days later his body was recovered from the River Don at Sprotborough, two miles from where he was believed to have entered the river at Conisbrough.
At the inquest at Bentley on Friday, a verdict of “Suicide while the balance of his mind was disturbed” was recorded by the Doncaster District Coroner, – Mr. W. H. Carlile.
The man was Harry Snell (59), a retired miner, of 21, Bentinck St.. Conisbrough. Snell had not worked since he left Cadeby Colliery some years ago after an accident, and had been on compensation since. Except for the injury to his leg, his health had been good.
Mary Snell, his widow, said that he had “been all right up to this last week” but she first noticed something “queer” on the Friday before he was missing— May 25th. On the Saturday she said, he was a “little unusual,” and said he was not going out. He looked very funny but did not say anything, and he had no breakfast. When Mrs. Snell went out at 10-30 he was sitting in the kitchen, but had gone when she returned at noon.
A note had been left in his writing on the table.
The Coroner asked Mrs. Snell: “In this note he refers to some personal trouble, and threatens to go into them river, doesn’t he?”
Mrs. Snell: Yes.
Mrs. Snell said she had not known of any trouble he had had, but did not report the disappearance to the police as she waited to see if he would return. The same day two boys found Snell’s cap and jacket on the river bank near Conisbrough Viaduct, and took them to the Castle Inn, where they were identified by Mrs. Snell.
P.C. R. B Shaw, of Conisbrough, said that in consequence of complaints made to the police he interviewed Snell at Conisbrough Police Station on May 25th. He cautioned him and charged him with certain offences. Snell made a statement and so far as one of the offences was concerned, P.C. Shaw alleged he admitted it. Snell was then allowed to return home, and was reported missing the next day.
His body was recovered last Wednesday at Sprotborough.