18 January 1899 Strange Occurrence at Eskra Co. Tyrone -Man found dead
On Friday last, the 13th inst., the dead body of a man named Peter M'CARROLL was found in a small stream under the arch of a bridge at Eskra. The place where the body was found is about 50 perches distant from Eskra Bridge and is known in the district by the name of Queen’s Bridge is built on a by-road leading from Eskra to the main road between Omagh and Clogher. The facts relative to the sad occurrence are these. On Monday 2nd January, M'CARROLL, who lived with his mother in Eskra, suddenly disappeared, previous to this deceased was noticed by the people of the neighbourhood to be somewhat strange in his demeanour, so that this in a manner might have led to his death. After his disappearance a search was instituted, but no trace of him could be found. It was supposed by some that he had gone to Scotland; his mother, who was at that time in a very poor state of health, holding the same opinion The matter dropped here and nothing more was heard of it until Friday evening, when a little boy named M'COOL, who was on his way home from school, discovered the body under the bridge named. Information was at once sent to the police barrack at Fintona and Sergeant DEANE accompanied by Constables LIPSEY and LANG proceeded to the place and found the body as stated. It was lying at full length, face downward, the head being toward the current. It would appear that deceased entered at the lower end of the bridge, the arch there being high enough to admit a man and in endeavouring to get out the other side, was prevented doing so by a large stump of a tree, which was evidently placed there to keep back cattle. It was with the head in a pool of water under this stump that the body was found. It may be here mentioned that deceased at the time of his disappearance was known to have been perfectly sober, so that his death cannot be attributed drink. Mr. J. G. R. PORTER coroner for the district, sat in Eskra Bridge House at 3 o'clock on Saturday evening 14th inst, and opened an inquest on the body of the deceased, Peter M'CARROLL, who was found dead at Eskra on Friday. Sergeant DEANE watched the proceedings on behalf of the Crown. The first witness examined was John SHERIDAN who stated that he resided in Eskra. He knew the deceased, Peter M'CARROLL, for the past 9 months. He last saw him on the 2nd inst., in the morning at about 8 o'clock, in the house of Mrs. Mary HEAGNEY, Eskra. He came for some cream and appeared to be in good health, but looking dull. He left immediately on getting the cream. For some time past he was strange in his demeanor. A Juror - Did he go to you early on the morning of his disappearance and ask you to go for the priest? Yes. Edward M'IVOR, Eskra, was next examined. He had known deceased about 8 years. He was missed on the 2nd January, and on that morning, about 8 o'clock, he was speaking to him in the house of John SHERIDAN. He was cold looking, as if he had been out all night. He did not notice anything strange about him, except that he looked quiet and dull. He had been missing from home since and he (M'IVOR) was one of the party who had assisted in the search. He knew the place where the body was found and said there was no pass that way which deceased could come, or go, to his own house. Joseph M'COOL, Tullycorker, a schoolboy, was the next witness. He said he was going home from school the day before. He jumped down from the bridge and in doing so dirtied his face and went to the stream to wash it, when he saw dead body in the stream under the bridge. He was lying on his face in the water. He saw the head first; it was facing the stream. There was not much water running at the time and the body was all bare except the face. He then came and told the other school fellows. Sergeant John DEANE was then sworn. He stated that on the evening before at 5.30 o'clock it. was reported at the barracks that a man unknown was found dead under a bridge in a small stream at Eskra. He, in company with two constables, arrived at the place at about 6.30 o'clock. He found the deceased under a bridge that spans the public road in the town of Eskra, with his face covered in water. He was lying at full length with his head facing the stream. The water was not more than 6 inches deep where the face was; it may have covered the body at some time, but did not then, as the back of his coat was dry. A stick is laid across the bridge at the upper side. A little pool of water lay below and it appeared to him the deceased had laid his face in the water. His hands were in a line with his head and were in a hoop shape. He would consider that his going in there was his own deliberate act. He had the body removed to where the jury had seen it and on searching it, he found a pipe, a knife, a piece of tobacco and 5 shillings and 3 half-pence in silver and coppers. Dr. T. DUNCAN, medical officer of Fintona dispensary district, deposed to making a superficial examination of the body. He found no marks of any external injury. He believed that his face and hands to near the elbows, had been in water at least 10 days. The cause of death was drowning. The other part of the body had no appearance of being in the water so long. The nose and mouth had evidently been lying in the gravel. There was not sufficient water in the stream to drown a person, unless it was done deliberately. There is the root of an old tree in the arch and under the tree there is a lot of water, the root forming a kind of embankment. The head was in the pool of water behind the root. John MEENAN, Kilnaherry, was then called and sworn. He said the deceased was his first cousin. He had known him since childhood. He was about 45 years of age and was a labourer. He first heard the previous evening, that Peter M'CARROLL was found dead in a bridge at Eskra. He heard he was missing for some time, but did not know he was noticed to be strange in his mind. The Coroner then summed up and the jury, after some deliberation, returned the following verdict "Peter M'CARROLL was found dead in the townland of Eskra on the 13th day of January, the cause of death being drowning, but no evidence has been advanced to show when said drowning took place." transcribed by Teena from the Derry Journal -- www.cotyrone.com http://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/
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