On Monday 9 November 1914, a man was found hanging from a tree in a field between Milton and Adderbury, near Banbury. He was never identified.
From the inquest, we have the following details:
- He was 40 - 45
- He looked "foreign", having the appearance of "an Italian organ grinder"
- He was wearing a grey striped flannelette shirt with a white linen collar and front, black trousers, a navy blue jacket, dark tweed short overcoat, dark tweed cap, and brown boots which had been “blacked over”
- His socks were nearly new
- In his pocket was a grey silk hankerchief marked with the letter H
- He also had a tobacco pipe, but no money, papers or other identification
- He had an old incised scar across his neck (separate to the ligature mark), suggesting a previous suicide attempt?
Numerous enquiries were made in the Banbury district, but no details regarding this man were ever found.
If he was indeed an "alien", by November 1914 he likely would have been registered somewhere so should have had papers. If he was an "enemy" alien (e.g. German, Austrian, Ottoman) his movements would likely have been restricted.
I don't have access to immigration records or alien registration papers, but wonder if they might be helpful.
Can anyone help identify this poor man?
