Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 11 March 1932
Theories of Denaby Woman’s Death.
Family’s Tragic History.
“This family has my sympathy. The have had a very tragic time, said Mr. W.H. Carlile at an inquest at the Montagu Hospital, Mexborough, on Monday on Charlotte Hartley (28), I5, Strafforth Terrace, Denaby, whose body was recovered from the canal at Mexborough on Sunday.
Jacob Hartley (brother), with whom Miss Hartley resided, said his sister had suffered recently from rheumatism. Shortly before Christmas, she severely scalded her legs. “This upset her nerves, and then she got the ‘flu.” She had been depressed for a fortnight or so. “We tried to jolly her to get well so that she could get married. She was thinking of getting married when things turned round a bit.”
A sister, Alice Hannah Hartley, gave evidence that Charlotte left home about 11.20 a.m. on Sunday. “She said she was going to her young man’s home at Conisborough.” Witness added that after her sister scalded herself, she had to receive medical treatment for a nervous breakdown. “She has been depressed, but she has never threatened to take her life. She seemed in good spirits on Sunday morning and when she was leaving me said. “Don’t worry, I shall be all right.” About fifteen months ago my brother was found drowned in the Thames at London and eighteen years ago my father drowned himself after being blind for nine years.”
The Coroner: I am very sorry for you.
Witness added that her sister might have changed her mind about going to her young man’s home and decided to go to other relatives at Swinton.
The Coroner: Do you doubt that your sister drowned herself?—Yes I do not think she drowned herself. I think she had a “dizzy do” and fell into the water. If you had bad headaches such as my sister and myself have, you would understand. That was the reason why I knew it was not safe for her to go out by herself. When these headaches come on, you might he at one side of the street and the next thing you remember is that you are on the other side.
Walter Basil Gray (shaft examiner), of 88, Fitzwilliam Street, Swinton, said that about 3.30 on Sunday afternoon, he and his brother-in-law were walking along the canal bank from Swinton to Mexborough Locks when they overtook and passed a woman. His brother-in-law remarked that she was looking very ill and that it was possible she was going to drown herself. The woman was opposite Mexborough glassworks when they passed her. “Not long afterwards we heard some children screaming and on rushing back we saw the woman in the water. A man gave me a pole and I got her to the bank and out. We tried artificial respiration but she died.”
P.c. Aucock, of Mexborough, said he had examined the canal bank and could not find a mark to show that the woman had slipped into the water. Above her right eye was a large bruise which might have been caused by slipping. When he searched her clothes there was no money, handkerchief or anything to denote who she was.
A verdict of “Found drowned” was recorded