Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 8 November 1924
Drowning Tragedy
Conisboro’ Child Found in Canal
A sad drowning tragedy in which the victim was the two-year old child of a Conisbrough man, John Ford, of Lock House, occurred on Monday. The child, whose name was Philip, was drowned in the lock close to his home.
The inquest was conducted by Mr. M. Nicholson, deputy for the Doncaster District Coroner, Mr. Frank Allen, at the Castle Inn, Conisbrough, on Wednesday afternoon. A verdict of “Found Drowned” was returned. Mr. Nicholson remarked that no blame attached to either the mother or the father.
The little fellow had been used to playing by the canal, and he had the misfortune to fall in. He expressed his deepest sympathy with the relatives.
John Ford, the father, said he last saw the child alive at 9 o’clock on Monday morning. He was 2½ years of age, and had been used to playing by the river. The canal was rather swollen at the point from which the body was recovered.
“Did you think he was walking along by the side of the canal and stepped over the curb?—That is the only thing I can put it down to.”
Witness added that the water was over the side at the time, and there was a swell on.
Mrs. Elizabeth Hirst, of Ferry Cottage, said that the little boy went round to her house about 11.15. He was subsequently missed and witness went with his mother to look for him. He was eventually found floating in the lock wall and was dead. The body was recovered by the brother of the witness, and everything possible was done to try to bring him round.