An inquest was held on Tuesday, 27th May, 1884, before J. T. Parker, County Coroner, at the Swan Inn, Higham Ferrers, to decide the cause of the death of Annie Elliott.

Thomas Elliott: I am a widower. The deceased was my daughter. She was nineteen years of age. She lived with me, and managed my house. She went about her work as usual on Monday, but several times during the day, she was "ailing". I asked her to leave off working, but she would not. She said she would be better in a few minutes. She rested for a short time, and then resumed her work. I have never had any quarrel with her; nor has she ever threatened to leave home. The last time I saw her alive was about a quarter to eight last evening. We both stood at the door. I left the house for a quarter of an hour, and when I returned, she had gone. She never returned. I went to bed about ten o'clock, but I got out of be3d several times during the night to see if she had returned. In the morning, I began to make inquiries. She was brought home at half past ten, dead. She could not write, so she left no letter or any note to say she meant to destroy herself. I know of no reason, except that she was pregnant, why she committed suicide.

George Church: I am a neighbour of the deceased. I am a shoe rivetter. This morning I went in search of the deceased. I found the hat and handkerchief [produced]. They were identified by her father as her property. The hat was the right way up, with the handkerchief underneath it. From the appearance of the rushes, it seems the deceased walked straight from where the hat was into the river. I went at once to the policeman, and some time later, the body was taken out of the river Nene at the place where it divides the parishes of Irthlingborough and Higham Ferrers. It was about forty yards from where I found the hat. She was fully dressed except for her jacket and hat. She was taken to her own home. I had seen her about eight last evening in my house. She seemed normal, singing and laughing, and playing with my baby. I noticed nothing different about her. I used to see her every day. I do not know if she was keeping company with any young man. I have seen her with one, but I don't know his name. I should know him if I saw him.

Mr. Bowridge, assistane to Dr. Crew: We have both examined the body of the deceased. There were no marks of violence on her body. It just presented the appearance of death from drowning. She was "enciente" [pregnant]. I have seen the deceased some time since I was attending her brother. I noticed then that she was of a very nervous tremperament. Her condition would be likely to increase her excitability, to the extent of rendering her incapable of controlling her actions.

The jury verdict was: "SUICIDE BY DROWNING WHILE IN A STATE OF TEMPORARY INSANITY".