CORONER'S INQUEST REPORT on Alexander Murdoch, drowned 16.4.1868 at Hull Town or Borough of Kingston-upon-Hull.

To witness, John Mclaren of Limekilns in the county of Fife, Master Mariner on his oath saith, I am master of the brig Gleaner of Limekilns. Last night I was lying on the west side of the Humber Dock at the south end - I have looked upon the body just now shown to the Jury. It is that of Alexander Murdoch. He was mate of my brig and a mariner. He was 41 years old. He belongs to Dumfries. I did not know him until the 11th when he signed articles to go to Marseilles. He had spent his money and left his clothes at Gainsborough. I advanced him several monies(?) amounting to 4 pounds 11 shillings. He remitted 50 shillings to his wife and bought bedding and got back his clothes. I heard he borrowed 2 shillings that night. He slept on board until last night. I last saw him at 6 a.m. yesterday on board. He was cleaning the decks. I went ashore and left him on board. I went on board at a quarter to 2 and remained there. He did not return on board that I know of. I heard he was drowned at 7 a.m. today. He said board at a quarter to 2 and remained there. He did not return on board that I know of. I heard he was drowned at 7 a.m. today. He said his money had been stolen while he was in drink at Gainsborough. His conduct seemed good as far as I could observe. I never was in his company away from the ship. He was cheerful. signed John Mclaren.

Henry Pitblads - of Limekilns aforesaid - seaman on his oath saith, I am cook on board the 'gleaner brig'. I was with deceased last night from quarter past 10 to quarter past 11. We were in a public house in Waterworks Road called the Earl of Durham. We left there about quarter past 11. He was worse for liquor. He had been tasting(?) all afternoon. He was able to walk but it was as much as he could do to take care of himself. I left him in front of the Earl of Durham. I was going on board and asked him to do so. He said no he would have a sweetheart (prostitute) before he went on board. There was no woman with him. I can't say if he had any money. He had paid for two glasses of ale. I left him and went on board. He went up the street towards the theatre after some girls - I did not see him come up to them. He had no watch. We went ashore between 7 and 8 o'clock and were in two public houses before the Earl of Durham. I did not see the deceased drink anything but ale. I had too much to drink. We were together all the evening. Signed Henry Pitblads.

John Phillips of 49 Anne Street in the Boro aforesaid, watchman, on his oath saith, Last night I was watching on board a smack lying on the Queens Dock, almost opposite Lowgate end. I was walking the deck. I went on watch at 4p.m. About quarter to 1 this morning, I heard a voice call out, "gleaner ahoy". The voice came from near the old hospital (?) on the opposite side. He called out three times - no-one answered. The voice was like the one of a drunken man. I then heard a splash from the same direction and someone cry out, "Oh dear". I called out, "Man overboard". A customs officer hailed me from near Lowgate end - I told him whereabouts it was and the officer ran. After a little I left my vessel and went round but the man had their smack and men were grappling for him. Signed John Phillips

Thomas John Poole of 8 Harwood Street in the borough aforesaid, mariner, on his oath saith, this morning at 12.45 I was keeping watch at Lowgate end. I heard someone call out, "Man overboard" from the other side of the dock. I saw a policeman running with his lantern "and followed him to the corner of the dock. It saw a cap floating and got it out, it was floating about two boats widths from a kell and near the middle of the dock. The papples(?) were up and we dragged about for nearly two hours, when we found the body at the corner of the dock and some distance from the cap. There was a little wind and he was very muddy. The police took charge of the body. His trousers were buttoned also his waistcoat. There were several new short pipes in his pockets.
Signed Thomas John Poole
Signatures of thirteen jurors.
the said Alexander Murdoch was accidentally casually and by misfortune drowned and suffocated in the waters of the Queens Dock there.

Alexander Murdoch was buried in the General Cemetery (Corporation) on 18 April 1868. Address given was - The Dead House, Parliament Street, Hull. (most probably the police station morgue) 12602, Compartment 169, Grave number 30113.

We have all heard the rumours of what some sailors get up to while away at sea. But can you imagine when Alexander's poor widow read the coroner's report and to see in black and white that he was looking for the company of a prostitute must of broken her heart. Harry Cumming Murdoch said "Elizabeth moved to the Channel Islands after her husbands death."

Back to Family Information