TIVEY FAMILY TREE

FATALITY AT ALFRETON COLLIERY

ALWERAS DROWNING MYSTERY - INQUEST AND VERDICT - Mr T E Auden (Deputy Coroner) held an inquest at the Crown Inn, Alweras, on Tuesday, as to the circumstances attending the death of John Tivey, who was found dead in the canal on Saturday.  Henry Tivey, of Kedleston Street, Derby, a licensed victualler, deposed that the deceased was his father, who lived in Shaftsbury Street, Derby and was a boat-maker. He was sixty-four years of age, and witness last saw him alive about a fortnight ago. He had been out of work for three years, but this had not troubled him very much, for he lived with witness's sister, and had all he wanted. Witness could not account for his visit to Alweras, for he was never in the habit of going for long walks. He had been told that deceased left his daughter's house at a quarter to six last Wednesday night, but did not say where he was going. He had finished his tea, and nothing strange had been noticed about his manner, He was cheerful, and he had never threatened to commit suicide. 

        By a juror - I notice he carried a stick. Was he lame?  Witness: Yes; he had suffered from rheumatism for some years, and always had the stick, which was a present from his grandfather, with him.

        George Tivey, another son, a greengrocer, said he saw his father last alive on the 16th inst. They had a conversation together, and he appeared quite in his usual cheerful spirits. He had been troubled with weakness on account of his rheumatism, and he was certain that deceased could not have walked from Derby to Alweras. There had never been any quarrel with members of his family.

        By a juror: When you missed your father, did you make any inquiries?  Witness: Certainly. We informed the police the same night.

       William Clowes, a lock-keeper at Wynchor, deposed that on the morning of the 25th he found deceased lying face downwards in the canal. The body was about three feet from the towing path side. There were no signs of a struggle, and it was impossible to denote where he had got in. It was a very foggy and dark night. The water was about eighteen inches deep at the spot.

     PC Murphy stationed at Alweras, stated that on Saturday morning, from information he received from last witness, he went to Gaskell Bridge, and found deceased lying on the towing path. There were no marks on the body and no signs of a struggle. He had his cap on, and was well clad, Witness made inquiries, but could not trace him as being seen in the village. He searched deceased's clothing, but found no money or letters in his pockets.

     The coroner chracterised the case as a very mysterious one. They had no evidence of his being of unsound mind, he said, and he considered they had two verdicts to choose from, Found drowned or Accidental Death. After a short consultation, the jury returned a verdict of "Found Drowned".