The Drowning of a Shields Porter in London
Last evening, Mr. John Troutbeck, the Westminster Coroner, held an inquiry at the Charing Cross Hospital concerning the death of John William Cranston, aged 32 years, cloak-room attendant at Durham Station, who was found drowned in the lake of St. Jame's Park. The deceased was identified by his brother, James Cranston, a carpenter, of 89 Edith Street, South Shields, who said he had not seen him since November last. His friends had no idea what he was doing in London, and did not know he had come up. A park-keeper deposed to finding the body of the deceased at the Buckingham Palace end of the lake between six and seven o'clock on Tuesday morning. He had only one leg, and his crutch was lying some distance from him. There was proof that he had got over the railings, on either side of which was a chair. In his pocket the police found a pawnticket, which led to his identification, and a privilege ticket, available from Newcastle to Durham. The jury returned an open verdict.