Walter Dronfield found himself in the newspapers again - this time The Derbyshire Times published 5 Feb 1916.
"NO PLEASURE AT HOME."
Barrow Hill Man's Grim Note.
"No pleasure at home. Sorry to cause trouble all round."
This was the grim note in the rim of the hat belonging to Walter Fox, aged 44 years, of
17, Barrow Hill, Staveley, whose body was found in the River Rother by the weir near
the Devon shire Works, belonging to the Staveley Coal and Iron Company, on Monday
morning. The hat was found on the river bank by a man proceeding to his work. Fox, it
appears left home on Sunday evening after having had a few words with his wife, and
had not been seen until his body was found in the river.
The inquest was conducted by the Chesterfield District Coroner (Dr. A. Green) at the
United Methodist Chapel, Barrow Hill, on Tuesday.
Evidence of identification was given by Ellen Fox, the widow, who stated that her
husband was engaged as a pipe inspector under the Staveley Company. He had not
been very well lately, suffering from his head, and having been unable to sleep at
nights. They had had a little trouble at home through witness's father.
"How would that cause trouble?" the Coroner asked.
Witness: He has been very strange with my husband, and said some nasty things about
him
Continuing, witness said her father had been living with them, but he left on December
23rd, and he had since been taken to the Workhouse. The Coroner: Was his head
affected?.
Witness: Yes; he was in the imbecile ward. Witness added that she last saw him alive at
5.10 p.m. on the Sunday. They had previously. had a few words, and he said he was
going out on his own. Witness asked if she should go with him down to his brother's,
and he said he was "going out on his own."
Joseph Crampp, of Lees Buildings, Barrow Hill, said he was going to work just before six
o'clock on Monday morning and when crossing the River Rother near the weir he saw a
hat on the bank side. He picked it up, and noticing a piece of paper in the rim he read
what was on it, and took it to Mr Baker, his foreman, who said he would report the
matter to the police.
Walter Dronfield, of Barnfield Terrace. Staveley, spoke to forming one of a search party
and seeing the body in the water face upwards near the Devonshire Works. The man
was then dead.
Pc. Wilson said he arrived on the scene about eight o'clock, and the body was then lying
on the bank. The hat and the note were handed to him. Witness knew the deceased
well. He was a very steady man, and was well respected in the district. He was not a
quarrelsome man-witness thought the reverse and he had not appeared to be
despondent or depressed until the last week or so. On last Monday week witness was
in conversation with him, and asked how he was getting on and he replied "Not very
well." Fox then added, "the old man was now away, but things were no better."
The police officer then handed the Coroner the note found in the hat.
In summing up the Coroner remarked that deceased apparently had not been in very
good health and things always looked blacker if one was not well.
The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity."