John Mullaney Drowned in Bilston Rd Canal Wolverhampton

[saw119]

Just discovered that my great, great Grandfather managed to drown himself when, apparently, inebriated in the canal near Bilston street bridge in 1891. Have one newspaper report but never having had anything like this before wonder if there's likely to be anymore info out there; coroners report, inquest etc? Apparently he was going to the Bridge Inn Bilston rd, is there a picture of the pub? All of my research is outside Staffordshire normally.

[Milliepede]

The death certificate will have more information and if there was an inquest. 

[CaroleW]

Try contacting Staffs record office to see if they hold coroners reports etc for that period

Death is on freebmd in March qtr

[Capetown]

There is on a net a website

by www.2deebees.net...... headed

Mullaneys in Wolverhampton

There are photographs of Bilston Road Canal Bridge in this article saying there is where John died 8 March 1891 - The cause on death on his death certificate reads.  Found dead in canal at Bilston Road Bridge.  Drowned himself whilst in a state of temporary insanity.  A Coronor's inquest was held on 9 March 1891.

There is a copy of his death certificate and Ann's on this website, copy of the Coronor's Record Book for March 1891.  etc. etc.

[saw119]

There is on a net a website

by www.2deebees.net...... headed

Mullaneys in Wolverhampton

There are photographs of Bilston Road Canal Bridge in this article saying there is where John died 8 March 1891 - The cause on death on his death certificate reads.  Found dead in canal at Bilston Road Bridge.  Drowned himself whilst in a state of temporary insanity.  A Coronor's inquest was held on 9 March 1891.

There is a copy of his death certificate and Ann's on this website, copy of the Coronor's Record Book for March 1891.  etc. etc.

I thought there was more to his death. The fact that his hat and vest were found on the canal side indicated to me that he didn't simply fall in while drunk and drowned. It looks like he took his own life perhaps.

[Jebber]

Suicide used to be a crime and you couldn’t be buried in consecrated ground.  The Coroner by stating  it as temporary insanity was taking away that stigma. I have a couple of similar examples in my tree.