Harry George Scutts 1872-1950

Notes [Twin.] [Gloucester Citizen, 1891 Oct 20. The Swindon Mystery. Inquest & Verdict. The resumed inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of the girl, Alice Spencer, aged 20, whoso body was found under such mysterious conditions, was held on Monday afternoon at the Clifton Hotel, New Swindon, before Coroner W E N Browne. Mr H J Franklin presided over the jury. Further evidence was given by the deceased's brother, in-law and sister (Mr. & Mrs. Henry Trueman), with whom the girl lived previous to her disappearance, last they saw of her was on October the 2nd. Mrs. Bull said the girl lodged with her on the night of October the lst, when she appeared quite usual in her manner, and displayed no suicidal tendencies. Henry Scutts, a youth, said he saw deceased near a bridge over the canal, at Swindon, October 3rd, when she appeared to be going home to Haydon Wick, via the Canal towing path. George Wilton, butcher, New Swindon, said the girl was a domestic servant in his household for three weeks. During that time there was certainly very strange intervals, and she was discharged as feared she would commit some desperate act, such as suicide. The Coroner suggested that the jury could return no other verdict than that of found drowned, as, apart from the evidence Mr. Wilton, there was nothing to show that the deceased had purposely made away with herself. The jury gave their verdict accordingly, but censured William Trueman for not making inquiries for the missing girl.] [Enlisted on: 23 Mar 1893, aged 20 years 6 months & 10 Jan 1900, aged 25 years - Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiments.] [Western Daily Press, Bristol, Tuesday 07 January 1930. Walked 450 Miles in 90 Hours. A Cardiff seafaring man, Chas James Manly has just completed a walk of miles in 90 hours 10 minutes, beating Harry Scutts time, of Swindon, by 8 hours 30 minutes. Carrying kit-bag weighing 14lb., and wearing black shorts and white sweater, Manly started from Edinburgh and completed his long walk to Salisbury. He accomplished his longest walk on the first day when he took hours to walk miles. Manly is staying at Bristol at the present time.] [H G S - 77yr.] [Gloucestershire Echo, Gloucestershire, Saturday 1950 Jul 01. Pedestrian Feats - Harry Scutts, who has died at Swindon, Wilts., was a noted long distance walker. Born in the Cotswold town of Northleach, he achieved such pedestrian feats walking to Scotland and back, and taking part in the London to Brighton road walking race. At other times he covered many miles as terrier-man to the V.W.H. (Cricklade) hounds.]