Sheffield Evening Telegraph – Saturday 01 April 1893

Shocking Suicide Of A Wombwell Man

John Walton, 46, horse keeper, of 21, Alma Street, Wombwell, committed suicide on Friday afternoon in the Dearne and Dove Canal, at Aldham Junction. It does not appear that there had been anything unusual observed in deceased’s manner, or condition lately.

Yesterday morning, about half-past six o’clock, he left his house at Alma Street, and walked to his brother’s house at Ardlay. He turned up there all right, and spent the day in assisting his brother in the garden. Between three and four o’clock he left his brother’s house to return home, and up to this nothing unusual had appeared to be noticed in his condition. About half-past four he reached Aldham Junction, and Mary Ann Pogmore, who happened to be near, saw him turn on to the canal bank, as though intending to go that way to Wombwell. Immediately afterwards she heard a splash in the water, and looking over the bridge she missed deceased, but saw his stick and coat laid on the canal bank. She raised an alarm, and his body was got out shortly afterwards by William Hary and others, but life was extinct. The body was conveyed home to await the inquest, which will be held in due course.