Mexborough & Swinton Times, August 14, 1915
Denaby Drowning Mystery
Little Boys Accused Each Other
Death of Playmate.
On Tuesday evening about 5 o’clock Thomas Richard Wellings, aged eight, son of James Wellings, 27, Wadsworth Street, new Conisbrough, lost his life by drowning in the Don near Cadeby Colliery.
At the time he was in company with James Wellings, his brother, aged four, and the boy named Harry Marshall, aged, said to be of weak intellect. The little boy, James Wellings, run home and said that Harry Marshall had pushed his brother into the water. The police called for dragging operations to be carried out and also questioned Marshall, who declared that it was James Wellings who pushed the deceased into the water.
The body was recovered at 6-45 by John Clayborne, Ferry Cottage, Cadeby.
The inquest was held at the Denaby Main Hotel on Wednesday, and Mr Montague Nicholson, who said he understood that Marshall was not to be found, having wandered out of the district. If he was of weak intellect it was not much use using his evidence.
James Wellings, father of deceased, gave evidence of identification, and his little son James, who was an eyewitness of the affair, came forward, and in response to some questioning said, “Harry Marshall pushed our Tommy, into the water. To everything else he replied with a nod.
John Claiborne gave evidence of the recovery of the body and the coroner intimated that in his views Wellings fell into the water during play.
The Foreman said that might be so but he was of opinion that the jury shopuld return an open verdict.
Verdict of “Found Drowned” was returned.