Mexborough and Swinton Times February 15, 1919

Swinton Suicide.

A Christmas Day Mystery Solved

Mr. J.  Kenyon Parker, held an inquest at the Carnegie Library, Swinton on Wednesday on to the death of William Bartles (67) colliery surface labourer, 37 Chapel Street, Swinton, who had been missing since Christmas Day and whose body was recovered from the canal at Swinton on Tuesday.

Clara Ann. Bartles, 29, Chapel Street, Wath road, Swinton, said deceased was her husband. He left home on Christmas Day in the evening, saying he was going to visit his daughter Daisy at Schofield Street, Mexborough. He did not go to her house.

Some time ago he was attended by Dr. Johnston for blood poisoning, resulting from an accident at Manvers Main. On Boxing Day she heard that his coat and cap had been found on the canal bank at Swinton.. Witness thought deceased committed suicide during a fit of depression consequent on his injury. He had been very low-spirited, but he never threatened to commit suicide.

Benjamin Naylor, lock-keeper, of Swinton, said he saw Bartles’s body in the canal near midland railway bridge at Swinton. Witness had previously on Christmas Day found deceased’s overcoat, muffler, and cap on the canal bank near the glass works. The body was found about fifty yards away. When he found the clothes he reported the circumstances to the police and they dragged the water but they found nothing.

Police-constable Hubert Williams said he recovered the body, which was fully Claude except for coat, overcoat, and cap. There were no marks of violence and nothing in the pockets. The overcoat, cap, and muffler referred to by the last witness had been identified as belonging to deceased

A verdict of “Suicide while suffering from illness and depression.” was returned.