Alfred Smith is buried in East Hill Cemetery, Dartford. Cemetery records say that his body was found in the river, so I decided to look for more information about his death in the British Newspaper Archive. I found the following article in the Bexley Heath and Bexley Observer, Friday 28 November 1913.
A TRAGIC SEQUEL TO A RECENT PROSECUTION
INQUEST AT ERITH ON
DARTFORD MAN
Within a short time of the Grand Jury at Maidstone throwing
out the bill in the case of the alleged robberies from Hall's foundry at
Dartford, the District Coroner (Mr. H. B. Sewell) conducted an inquest at the
West Street Schools, Erith on the body of one of those who had figured in the
case. Alfred Smith (aged 54 years), of 14, Priory Road, Dartford, was charged
with receiving goods alleged to have been stolen, and, with the two others
concerned, was last week committed for trial at the Assizes. However, on Friday
morning his body was taken from the River Cray.
The Evidence
The first witness at the inquest was Alfred William Smith,
son of deceased. He lives at 73, Ann of Cleeves Road, Dartford, and is an
electrical engineer. He stated that his father had had a charge preferred
against him recently for receiving some metal fittings, and was committed the
previous Monday to take his trial. He was out on bail, and he was very much
upset. Witness saw him after his committal. He did not go to work again,
although it was not a serious case, as the bail was only £5. He took it very
much to heart, as it was the first time he had ever been in such position. He seemed
to brood over the matter, and went to see witness the previous Thursday. He appeared
to be better then. He returned to his home, and left again about seven o'clock
in the evening, having previously had an interview with his solicitor. He appeared
to be very depressed, and when he left the house his wife did not know where he
was going or when he was expected back. Witness did not know that deceased had
not returned until half-past four the following morning, when he searched for
him. Witness subsequently heard that the body had been found in the river Cray,
about a mile or a mile and a half from his home. It was a favourite walk of
deceased's. He never talked of suicide, and left no message or memorandum.
William Cuthbertson, 14, Priory Road, Dartford, block
printer, said that he had lived in deceased's house for eleven years. He was
terribly upset by the charge against him of receiving some fittings from Hall's
foundry. Witness last saw him alive in his own house at seven o'clock on the
Thursday evening, when he was in a most depressed condition. When he left the
house he did not say where he was going, and as he did not return, enquiries
were made, and the body was found about nine o'clock the next morning.
Frederick Liddiard, labourer, of 2, Saw Mills Cottages,
Crayford. said he was on his way back from breakfast on Friday morning when a
lad called his attention to a body in the water. It was in a standing position,
with the head slightly bent forward. There was a large amount of mud at the
bottom of the river, and be thought deceased must have got in up to his knees.
With assistance the body was taken from the water, which covered the head
almost to the crown. It would be quite easy for anyone to walk into the water
from the bank, but there was a wire fence to be got over.
P.C. Thomas Hamlin, 90 RR, who received the body, took it to
the mortuary at Crayford, and on searching the clothing found a silver watch,
stopped at five minutes past eight, a metal chain and a number of other
articles, but no money or anything to disclose his identity. Dr Richard Davis
Stacy, who was called to examine the body, found no marks of violence, and
death, due to drowning, had ensued about 12 hours.
The Coroner said it was clearly a case of suicide, and the
Jury returned a verdict of “Suicide whilst temporarily mentally deranged."
Alfred is buried in grave 3579 in East Hill Cemetery. Cemetery
records say that he was a plumber and hot water fitter. The grave is inscribed
“In memory of ALFRED SMITH, who died 21st Nov 1913, aged 54
years / Also FANNY ALLEN, who died 12th April 1929, aged 74 years / Also MARY
ELIZABETH SMITH / who died 29th March 1943 / aged 82 years / 'At rest'”
Mary Elizabeth Smith was Alfred’s wife. Fanny Allen was her
sister.
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