George Albert Ball

George Albert Ball was found dead in the River Trent at Holme Pierrepont.

He was found on the Saturday by the lock keeper at Holme Pierrepont. He said that his body came over the weir and that it had the appearance of having been in the water for four or five weeks.

He was identified by papers on him and his driving licence with an address at Mark Marlcliffe, Curzon Avenue in Birstall. The policeman who examined his body said that George Ball had had a driving licence on him and a cheque book containing blank cheques but no money.

When the Leicestershire police investigated, they found that he had been missing since 26 November 1929. His brother said that he had left his home on 25 November 1929 to go to his business and never returned. He had sent a telegraph the following day from Sheffield saying that he might be back but nothing was later heard from him.

His brother said that he understood that George Ball had been seen in Sheffield on the Friday but that he had not made any business calls.

George Ball's motor-car was later found in a garage near Trent Bridge on 1 December 1929. When he had left it he had told the attendants that he would be back in an hour or so.

His brother also said that as far as he knew George Ball had been in good health. He said that he understood that he had had a slight financial worry but that it was of an ordinary character.

He was a commercial traveller. His brother said that George Ball's business was in the Sheffield and Liverpool area and that he didn't think that he had gone to Nottingham in the course of his business other than passing through Nottingham to get back to Leicester.

No note or letter was found that could throw any light on the cause of George Ball's death.

The Coroner's inquest returned an open verdict of 'found drowned'.