Mexborough and Swinton Times July 22, 1905
Conisborough Tragedy
Drowning – 18 month old child
The deputy coroner for the Doncaster District (Mr Frank Allen) held an inquest at the Denaby Main Hotel, new Conisbrough, on Monday afternoon, touching the death of Ellen Evans, the 18 months old child of Thomas Evans a miner of 16 Balby Street.
The deputy coroner said he did not think the case required any special explanation. The child it appeared was made shortly after dinner on Saturday, and a brother went to look for her, ultimately finding her lying on her back in a pond in an allotment garden. She was just alive, but despite efforts to revive her she died shortly afterwards.
The mother of the deceased Martha Evans, gave formal evidence of identification.
George William Evans, brother of the deceased, said he was 12 years of age. He last saw his sister alive in the morning, when she was playing about the house. She was Miss shortly after dinner and he went to find her. He discovered her lying on her back in a small pond in an allotment garden belonging to Benjamin Armstrong. He could just see her hands and a portion of her frock sticking out of the water. He managed to get her out and call for help. Mr Armstrong and Mrs Orton came and he ran for the doctor. She was dead when he got back. When he found her there were only one or two little boys playing about.
Sarah Hutton said she was called to the scene of the accident. She endeavoured by artificial respiration to get the deceased round, but after being taken out of the water she only breathed twice. Drs Foster and McClure came, and although they try for half an hour to get around they failed.
The jury, over which Mr Owen presided, returned a verdict of “Accidental Death”