City & Liberty of
Westmr . in the County
of Middlesex }

Informations taken this Eleventh day of May
1771 at the Parish of St. Margaret within the Liberty
of Westmr. in the County of Middlesex upon an Inquisition
touching the death of Cornelius Severs< no role > lying dead
in the said Parish Liberty and County.

Charles Morton< no role > a Lodger at Mr. Fawcat in Gloucester Row
Knightsbridge , on his Oath saith Thursday last (May 9th.) about
Seven o'Clock in the Evening Dept. was walking in Kensington
Gardens when he saw the Deced walking alone backwards
and forwards by the side of a Pord or River in said Gardens at that
End next to Bays Water, appearing to be dull and Melancholy
Says that he Walked towards the Deced and when he was
within about one hundred Yards of him, Dept. saw the Deced
take of his Coat and Wastcoat and laid them with his Hat
upon the Ground, after which the Deced threw him unto
the River there called the Serpentine River, Says that
the Deced Struggled when in the Water but the Bottorn
being Muddy Deced sunk, Says that he rang the Bell
at Sr. James Calder< no role > 's House in said Gardens and
acquanited St. James that a Man was in the River upon
which he sent two Bottles of Brandy and some Salt to
rub the Man with after he was got out, Says that a Man
belonging to Sr. James Calder< no role > came to the River side, went
in and pulled the Deced out of the River to the Shore
when he appeared to be dead, Says that a Gentleman who
came there gave the Man two Shillings who pulled out the
Deced, Sarp, that the Deced was rubbed with Brandy and
Salt, and afterwards bled in both Arms, Says that the Deced
bled pretty free at the Right Arm and a few drops at the left arm
that the Deced groaned on [..] faintly, but Dept could perceive
no other Signs of life in him.

Charles Morton< no role >

Alexander Clark< no role > Gardener to Sr. James Calder< no role > in Kensington
Gardens near Bays Water on his Oath saith That on Thursday
last about Seven o'Clock in the Evening [..] somebody
knocked [..] at Sr. James's Door and on Dept. going to the Door
he was informed by some Men, that a Man had thrown
himself into the River and one of them offered Dept. two
Shillings to go and fetch him out, Says that he went with them