IS THIS THE SUM OF THE INVESTIGATION BY PROCURATOR FISCAL?

[sheilajim]

Hi All

I am a little upset with the investigation by the Procurator Fiscal for Dunoon, Argyll.

I found the death Cert for my relative James Scott, noticed that there was no cause of death listed and that there was an RCE attached. The informant of his death was his brother-in-law, which he did on Nov. 2, 1885, in Dunoon, Argyll.

On the RCE done by the Procurator Fiscal, states that James Scott's body was found on the shore of the River Clyde, near Hunter's Quay on Oct. 30, 1885. The cause of death was determined to be drowingon either the 29th or 30th of October. He was 40 years old. His residence is given as Greenock. He was a Coachbuilder, married and had a growing family. He also employed 6 men in his business.

What bothers me is why he drowned. What was he doing in Dunoon? If he drowned, why was he found on the shore? Was this accidental, or suicide, or possibly murder? Wouldn't you think that there would be some kind of investigation into his death?

On another subject. He died intestate and SP has 3 pages of Inventory for 5 Lbs and another page for another 5 lbs. Why aren't the four pages together.


Regards

[LesleyB]

Hi Sheila
The two documents are these two?

• Scott James 28/01/1886 Coachbuilder, George Square, Greenock, d. 29/10/1885 at Hunter's Quay, intestate Eik Greenock Sheriff Court Inventories SC53/41/1
  
  Scott James 08/12/1885 Coachbuilder, Greenock, d. 30/10/1885 at Hunters Quay, intestate Greenock Sheriff Court Inventories SC53/41/1

Although the refs look the same, the ref only refers to a book of recorded testaments - the first one is an eik:

http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/conte ... x.aspx?111

What is an eik?
This is a supplement to a testament, added some time later. It was necessary to extend the confirmation of an executor to cover property not originally included. You will sometimes find several eiks relating to the original testament.

Because it was added at a later date it is not part of the same document, so that is why it is listed, and priced, separately. A nuisance, I know.

With regard to this bit:

I found the death Cert for my relative James Scott, noticed that there was no cause of death listed and that there was an RCE attached. The informant of his death was his brother-in-law, which he did on Nov. 2, 1885, in Dunoon, Argyll.

On the RCE done by the Procurator Fiscal, states that James Scott's body was found on the shore of the River Clyde, near Hunter's Quay on Oct. 30, 1885. The cause of death was determined to be drowingon either the 29th or 30th of October.

I'm maybe picking this up wrongly but just because the death was registered in Dunoon does not mean that James was living or visiting in Dunoon. It may just mean that his brother registered it there for some reason. I'm kind of thinking tides and movement - if you fall in the water at Greenock, it seems quite possible the body was maybe found at Dunoon. Hunter's Quay is near Dunoon I think. So when/if the brother went to identifiy the body he registered the death at the same time, perhaps?

Best wishes
Lesley

[emanday]

Wouldn't it have to have been registered in Dunoon because that is where his body was found, near Hunter's Quay, Lesley?

[Russell]

Hi Sheila

You really have to know the geography - or should I say the seascape - of the area to understand why someone from Greenock ends up floating across the Clyde estuary and ends up at the entrance to a sea loch directly across the water from Greenock.
If the wind and tides are right it is feasible that a body can be carried across the river to the opposite shore then when the tide turns it would be carried onto the headland which constitutes Hunter's Quay as the flow would be into the Holy Loch rather than across towards Greenock again.
Dunoon is actually a mile or so further down the Clyde but was the administrative centre for the area.
Officials, knowing the local tides and wind effects would have no difficulty deciding that this was a routine case of -Man falls in water, can't swim so drowns, body carried by the tide, washes up on opposite shore' Close case.
It still happens from time to time today although with modern power boats and RIBS (rigid inflatable boats) they usually fish a body out of the water before it is carried too far.

No mystery or negligence I'm afraid.

Russell
P.S. Looking across the water from the hills above Greenock across to the Dunoon side with the misty outline of Ben Lomond behind it is my favourite view in the world.

[LesleyB]

Hi Sheila
Scotsman says:

Monday, 2nd November 1885, page 7
Man Drowned at Hunter's Quay - on the afternoon of Friday last the body of a man was found on the beach near Hunter's Quay. Investigation revealed the fact that the deceased was Mr James Scott of Messrs Scott & Douglas, coachbuilders, West Stewart Street, Greenock. It seems that Mr Scott left Greenock for Blairmore on a business errand on Thursday, but did not return by steamer at night, as expected, and his non-appearance gave his friends uneasiness. Their worst fears were realised by a telegram acquainting them with the discovery of his body. It is supposed that the deceased had stumbled into the water. Mr Scott has left a widow and four children.

Best wishes
Lesley

[sheilajim]

Hi All,

Thank you Leslie for the info on the EIK's. Thank you Russell on tides, etc.

I was thinking that Greenock was near Glasgow. I was born and raised in Canada and am now living in the U.S.A. That is probably the reason that I keep forgetting how small Scotland is. I was thinking that Dunoon was hundreds of miles from Greenock.

I still think that the case was very strange and I am certain that if it had happened today, there would be more of an investigation. The RCE said nothing about the body having travelled any distance. I just wonder how the whole thing happened.

Regards

[LesleyB]

Hi Sheila
More info above!!

Best wishes
Lesley

[sheilajim]

Wow Leslie,

Thank you so much. I looked to see if there was anything in the Scotsman about it, but couldn't find anything. Maybe I didn't look correctly, I don't have a subscription.

Thank you so much again.

[LesleyB]

Hi Sheila
The Scotsman search is ...well.....odd. It is difficult to tell from those wee snippets they give you if there is anything relevant at all to your search. You really have to have a look at the articles. It can be very frustrating!

Best wishes
Lesley

[joette]

About six years ago my brother-in laws wee brother disappeared.His van was found with the keys still in it near to the Erskine Bridge.
He was missing for six weeks before his body was found at Greenock.They could not prove how he died but it is was recorded as accidental.
We will never know what happened despite an extensive inquiry& modern forensic techniques.We can surmise & speculate but we don't know & probably never will.
Still greatly missed & has left a great hole in his family.