Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 for Wiltshire

Mussell, Albert       1914 Jul 10^th       Downton

Agricultural Worker Found Drowned

The Coroner for South Wilts (Mr F H Trethowan) held an inquest on Monday at the residence of Mr H Loveless, at Standlynch, in regard to the death of Albert Frank Mussell, a young agricultural labourer, whose body had been found in the river that morning.

Mr A Hunt was foreman of he jury.

Frank mussel, of the Borough, Downton, an agricultural labourer, said that his son, Albert Frank mussell, was nineteen years of age and lived with him. He last saw him alive on Tuesday, June 30^th. When he returned from work that evening at seven o’clock he said he had had enough of work at New Court Farm and was going to try for another job. He made no complaint, nor did he say what the trouble was, but he thought he was upset at being chaffed by his fellow labourers. He was not easily upset, but seemed so that evening. He always appeared to be of sound mind, and he had no idea that he would attempt to take his life, nor had he ever threatened to do so. At about 9.30 his son went out saying he would return in a few minutes, but he never came back. Before leaving, he had gone up to his bedroom and taken his things out of his pocket as he usually did before he went to bed. There was no insanity in the family. He was very reserved, a teetotaller, and had not left Downton in his life.

Frederick George Sharp, carter at New Court Farm, said that Mussell was at work with him on June 30^th, and told him he was not coming to work the next day, but did not say why. The carter had complained about the time Mussell had taken to load straw in the morning. At about four o’clock he heard someone “nagging” at him, but he neither said not did anything, and it was after that that he said he should not come to work. He did not think he was so worried that he would take his life, though he was a bit worried at the way he had taken the nagging and joking. He knew of nothing else that could have worried him. He had worked on the farm for five and a half years.

Frank Gunstone, gardener, of Downot, sais he saw Mussell on June 30^th at about 9.30pm walking along Gravel Close towards New Court, and when he said “Good night, Frank,” he replied, “Good night, Mr Gunstone,” in his usual tone. He had known him all his life, and thought he did not seem to have any trouble. He was very quiet and reserved.

Bertram Earney, water-keeper, of Standlynch, said that at 9.30 that morning he saw a body in the river Avon at Standlynch by the waterfalls. With the assistance of Mr Loveless, he recovered it, and found it to be that of Albert Mussell.

William Joseph Stuttaford, locum tenens to Dr Whiteley, said he had examined the body, and in his opinion death was due to drowning. There were no marks of violence.

The jury returned a verdict of “Suicide.”