The Tragic Death of Godfrey Wolfe

The following report comes from a newspaper cutting, in one of my grandfather's scrapbooks, but where he got it from, and how, is a mystery. Godfrey Wolfe was, for a very short time, the Head Teacher at Hooe National School.

"Tragic Death of a Schoolmaster at Tattershall Bridge"

"Much grief and consternation was caused in Tattershall Bridge and district on Sunday, by the finding Mr Lamyman's garden of the dead body of Mr Godfrey Wolf, the newly-appointed headmaster of the Board Schools. The deceased recently trained the performers for a successful children's entertainment at Tattershall Bridge, which he reported in these columns, and visited Billinghay on Saturday for the purpose of making arrangements for a repetition of the performance in Billinghay Board Schools. He started on the return journey the same evening, and losing his way fell into the Twenty Foot Drain."

"The night was dark and bitterly cold, and the unfortunate gentleman succumbed to the exposure before being able to reach his home."

"An inquest was held in the Board School, Tattershall Bridge, on Tuesday, before in the snow, Esq, and the following jewellery:-Messers W. A. Kew (Foreman), W. Dove, E. Wilson, H. Harrison, E. Willows, G. Carr, C. W. Green, J. Saxby, W. Ravell, E. Carter, E. B. Sempter, and J. Barratt. After viewing the body, the following evidence was adduced:-"

"Inspector Dain, Billinghay, deposed: on Sunday morning about 10 a.m., I went to the farm of Mr Amos Lamyman, of Billinghay Dales, where I saw the deceased lying in an outbuilding. He was quite dead, and his clothing very wet. In his vest pocket was the viewers watch produced; it had stopped at 1035. The bank produced was handed to me by Thomas Lamyman, and contain the number of concert tickets and letters of correspondence, also a postal order, value two shillings, measuring tape, etc. I examined the bank of the dike opposite Mr Lamyman's and found impressions of a boot (similar to ones which might be produced by the boots worn by the deceased) at the edge of the water. I also saw several footprints on the opposite side of the dyke, and the rushes were trodden down as if someone had been in the water. I identify the body which the jury just viewed."

"Toynbee Benton, farmer, Billinghay Dales said on Saturday night at five minutes to six o'clock he met deceased coming in the direction of Tattershall Bridge. He was then about half a mile out of Billinghay, not far from Mr Thos Toulson's house. He said "Good night". It was not dark, and I could see him fifty or sixty yards before he passed me. He was walking perfectly straight down the centre of the road, carrying in his hand small satchel."

"John Ruston, farmer, Billinghay Dales, stated that on Saturday night, about 10 minutes or a quarter before seven o'clock, a gentleman wherever dark overcoat and, and carrying a bag similar to the one produced called at his house, and asked if he was right for Tattershall Bridge. With this took him through the gate onto the middle-of-the-road and pointed the way to Tattershall Bridge, and told him to keep straight on the road. He said, "then I want to keep straight on this bank," and with this directive him on the way. It was not pitch dark. From his speech and man of the man was not the worse for drink. He did not notice of his close will wet."

"Thos. Lamyman, Foreman for Mr Amos Lamyman, who lives at Billinghay Dales, said on Sunday morning about seven o'clock he saw a satchel similar to the one produced lying on the lawn near the house, any went outside and found the body of a man, wearing a dark overcoat and a grey suit, lying at the west corner of the house on the grass. He was quite dead and cold. He fetched Mr John Tonge, and then went to Billinghay and gave information to Inspector Dain. The deceased was lying flat on his back, and his clothes were saturated with water. The bag, which was lying a short distance away, was soaked with water. Witness the Mr Tonge removed the body to one of the outhouses prior to the arrival of Inspector Dain. He noticed footmarks on both banks, and that the rushes were trodden down."

"Dr Sydney Merryweather, Coningsby, said on Sunday morning, about 11 o'clock, Inspector Dain informed him that the body of Mr Wolf had been found in Mr Lamyman's garden near the Twenty Foot Drain. He went in the direction in Mr Lamyman's house, and met some men conveying the body to Mr Amos Lamyman's house. As soon as they had taken the body to deceased house witness made an external examination. The body was that are fairly well nourished man. There was a small wound about 3/4 of an inch long over the left eye, from which a little blood had flowed. The head, neck, and some parts of the body were somewhat livid, and he should say he had been dead from seven to eight hours. From an external examination death had been caused by syncope, consequent to exhaustion and exposure."

"Eli Brown, schoolmaster, Billinghay, said Mr Wolf called at his house shortly before five o'clock on Saturday afternoon. He was of opinion that it was under the influence of the drink. He was with witness upwards of a quarter of an hour. Witness twice asked him to have some tea, but he declined each time. Ongoing he stumbled over a chair, and he did not think he was responsible for what he said or did. Witness accompanied him on to the road, and saw him start in the direction of his home. He shook hands with him, and said, "Good night". He watched him along the road, and the stumbled at intervals."

"Charles Knott, innkeeper, Billinghay, stated: - Mr Wolf called at his house on Saturday last, about a quarter past five. He had had plenty of drink and seemed muddled. He asked us and beer, a witness declined to supply him, and after he had been there for 10 minutes or a quarter of an hour he went. He said he had no money."

"Josie Franklin Benton, blacksmith and farmer, Billinghay, said on Saturday last about five o'clock, deceased came abruptly into his house, and look strangely round, set down the chair and after a whisky and soda. Witness told him he was in a private house. After behaving somewhat strangely, he got up walked out. He returned in about five minutes and sat down, and witness asked him to stay and have some tea, but he declined. Witness thought if he rested he might recover from his dazed condition. However, he still refused to remain, and ongoing he fell down outside the door. Witness picked him up on the walked off down the yard instead of down the road. He found he was wrong and returned, and walked down the street in the direction of his home."

"The coroner briefly reviewed the evidence adduced, and the Jury found, “That deceased died of syncope, following exhaustion and exposure, and that his death was accelerated by intoxicating liquid."

The "Bexhill Chronicle" similarly reported the tragedy, as follows:

Mr. Godfrey Wolfe, who was the master of Hooe School from 1893 to 1895, was found frozen to death near his home at Tattershall Bridge, Lincoln, on Sunday morning, February 2nd. The inquest was held, the following Tuesday, and the verdict returned, was " Death was due to syncope following exhaustion and exposure, accelerated by strong drink".

My Grandfather, a very religious man, who took over the headmastership from Godfrey Wolfe, was very much against alcohol and strong drink, but wrote and added the verse. I have been unable to find out why he wrote it, and though he must have met Godfrey Wolfe, there is nothing to say that they knew each other. It might be that the newspaper, having got the story, wanted someone who knew him to comment and asked J. J. N. to.