Ethel Temperton

Ethel Temperton was found drowned in the dam at Endcliffe Park in Sheffield on the morning of Saturday 7 July 1923.

She had been a charwoman and had lived at 122 Brunswick Road.

A man employed by the Highways Department of the Sheffield Corporation, who had lived in Leicester Street, said that he had been repairing the tram track in Rustlings Road when he saw a man jump off a tramcar and shout for help. He said that he then followed the man to a dam in Endcliffe Park where he saw a seven-year-old boy holding on to the skirt of a woman in the water.

He said that he got the woman out of the water and tried artificial respiration, but said that it soon became apparent that it was useless.

He said that he thought that the woman had been in the water for about six hours. When the Coroner asked him why he thought that, he said because of the marks. He said that the water was full of rats and that they would not attack a body until it had been in the water for four hours, until it was dead.

Evidence was heard at the inquest to the effect that Ethel Temperton had had no troubles or worries.

When the coroner returned the verdict, he said that there was no evidence to show how she got into the water.