A painful sensation has been caused in Rushden by the suicide of Mrs. Bridgford, aged 49, wife of William John Bridgford, shoemaker, of 24, Midland-road. Mrs. Bridgford was highly respected by all who knew her; she lived very happily as far as her home life was concerned; and the only explanation of the sad affair is the fact that, as the doctor said at the inquest, she suffered from a very painful affliction and was perhaps never quite free from pain.

The cause of death was the subject of an inquest held at the Victoria Hotel on Monday night by Mr. J. C. Parker, deputy coroner. Mr. J. T. Reid was foreman of the jury.

Wm. John Bridgford deposed: On Saturday I and my wife had dinner together, finishing about one o'clock. I then went to my work in the shop adjoining the kitchen. During dinner my wife seemed in her usual spirits, and ate a good meal. About 3.30 I was in the house with my daughter's child, but I heard nothing of my wife. My daughter (Mrs. Leeton) came in about 3.50 and said, “Where's mother?" I replied, "She's upstairs I expect. I should think she'll come down soon—it's getting towards tea time". She was in the habit in the summer of going upstairs to lay down a little after dinner, though not in the wintertime as it was too cold; but I expected she was upstairs that afternoon as she was not in the kitchen. My daughter called upstairs three times, but got no answer. Then she went upstairs and looked in the middle bed­room—which I and my wife occupied—but could not find her mother there. In the front bedroom she saw her mother on the floor, and at once called me and then called her husband out of the bedroom window. We removed my wife to the middle room and laid her on the bed. She was quite unconscious. We sent for a doctor at once. Besides myself, my two sons, my daughter and her husband, were with deceased. My wife was very delicate; she suffered from rheumatism. She did not do a great deal of the housework, she was not well enough for that; she did a little in the morning, and my daughter did the rest. My wife was a very strong-nerved woman. She never seemed to be strange in her behaviour, and never threatened to commit suicide. We had had no quarrel, either that day or previously, and I know of no reason whatever why she should commit suicide. We have all talked it over to-day and can find no reason at all. I cannot swear to the bottle produced. (labelled "Poison Carbolic Acid") We had the acid in the house for disinfecting the drains. I knew there was some about in the house somewhere. The cup produced was on the floor beside deceased. As soon as I saw the cup I thought she had taken something.

The Coroner: Were you surprised?

Witness: I was very much surprised.

Mrs. Leeton (deceased's daughter) said: About 3.35 on Saturday I went across to mother's, called upstairs three times. As she did not answer me, I went upstairs. She was not in the middle room, so I went to the front bed-room. When I got to the door I heard her making an awful noise. I saw the cup (produced) by her side: it startled me, and I cried, "Oh, mother! I ran to the top of the stairs and called father. He is very deaf, but he heard me, and then I went to the bedroom window and called my husband as well. We removed mother to her own room and placed her on the bed, and then sent for the doctor. Mother has suffered from rheumatism for some years. She never said much about her pain, and always made light of it. When she had a very bad day she would say so, but I never heard her in any shape or form threaten suicide. She was very happy and contented at home, and this was the last thing in the world we thought of.

By Mr. Powell (one of the jurors): My brother found the carbolic acid bottle in the fireplace in the front bedroom. It was not kept there generally.

Dr. Baker stated: On Saturday, about 4 p.m. I was called to see deceased at her house. She was on the bed, fully dressed, and quite unconscious. Her mouth was full of frothy saliva. The smell of carbolic acid was very obvious, and there was any amount of stain. I came to the conclusion at once that she had taken carbolic acid. I treated her, and she rallied a little under it, but never regained consciousness. I washed the stomach out, but nothing came but a little water which smelt of carbolic acid. She died between 8 and 9 p.m. from the effects of the poison. She had taken about 2ozs. of carbolic acid, judging from the marks on the cup. I knew deceased, who suffered from a very painful chronic joint disease, which is popularly called rheumatism. She would never really be free from pain, and would probably never know what it was to be quite comfortable.

The Coroner: Have you ever noticed any suicidal tendency?

Dr. Baker: No. She always seemed brave and cheerful. I know of no reason why she should commit suicide.

The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide'', adding that there was not sufficient evidence to show the state of her mind. As a mark of sympathy the jury gave their fees to the family.

The funeral of the deceased took place on Tuesday in the cemetery, the Rev. J. G. Forrest officiating.

Mr. William John Bridgford and family desire to thank all the kind friends for their expressions of sympathy in their bereavement.

Note: Sarah Ann Bridgford died on 30th January and was buried on 2nd February 1904 in Rushden Cemetery - Grave C665