South Yorkshire Times, January 16th, 1960
Drowned In Canal
Open Verdict on Healthy Swinton Octogenarian
An 82-years-old Swinton man, who was found drowned on Friday, would have lived for a good long time, it was stated at a Swinton inquest on Tuesday. The Sheffield District Coroner (Mr. A. P. Lockwood) recorded an open verdict on William Henry Turton of 9, Brameld Road, Swinton whose body was found in the Sheffield and South Yorkshire canal at Rowms Lane, Swinton, on Friday, seven days after he had been reported missing from home. Mr. Turton, a widower, had for 50 years worked as a miner at Manvers Main. Mr. William Henry Turton of 22, The Crescent, Swinton, gave evidence of identification and said he last saw his father on December 24th at the Woodman Inn, Swinton.
Mrs. K. E. Rodwell, of 14, Walker Street, Swinton, said that on Christmas Eve at 11pm she left the Ship Inn at Swinton with Mr. Turton. She described Mr. Turton as being “drunk” and added that she had put Mr. Turton on a ‘bus at the Don Hotel, Swinton giving instructions to the conductress to see him off at Brameld Road. “He didn’t seem in a distressed mood, but rather merry and happy,” she said.
Mr. Walter Mallinder, 11, Brameld Road, Swinton, said he was Turton’s next door neighbour and was used to hearing Mr. Turton come home late. “We didn’t hear him come home on Christmas Eve and when we heard nothing from him during Christmas, I looked in the coal shed and saw his key hanging there.”
P.C. Roy Beckett of Swinton said a signal man reported seeing a body in the canal at Rowns Lane. It was later identified as being that of Turton. He said that there were numerous wounds to his face but no suspicious circumstances. P.C. Beckett said that Turton could have found his way to the canal if he had got off the bus at the next stop, Station Street, which was about 200 yards from the canal towpath.