[Edward] John

DETAILS OF DEATH

According to newspaper reports in the Launceston Examiner on August 26th and the Tasmanian Newspaper on Saturday 30th August, 1879, Constable Woodward was crossing a very low lying bridge over the Great Forester River on the evening of 20th August 1879 when his horse slipped and they both fell into the water. Due to high tides and extensive rainfalls the river was prone to be covered in water making it dangerous and difficult to cross; the evening Constable Woodward crossed the bridge it was under water. The newspaper reports surmise Constable Woodward “…misjudged [the bridge’s] position and ridden into the river on the left hand, or lower side of the bridge.His body was found in the middle of the river, six or seven yards below the bridge.