A painful sensation was caused on Wednesday morning at Rushden, by the discovery of the body of Clara Ellen Crick, wife of Mr. James Crick, of Allen-road, Rushden, in a well in a neighbour’s yard. The deceased underwent an operation at Bedford Infirmary some weeks ago, but on Tuesday night went to bed apparently in her usual state of health. Early in the morning the deceased’s daughter missed her mother and on going across the road to a neighbour’s to see if she had gone there was horrified to find her body in a well in the yard.

An inquiry into the circumstances attending the death was held at Mr. Whitehead’s outdoor beerhouse, Queen-street, on Wednesday afternoon by Mr. J. Cairns Parker, Deputy Coroner. Mr. H. H. Hobbs was chosen foreman of the jury.

James Crick, husband of the deceased, said he was a machinist and lived at No. 45, Allen-road. The body just viewed by the jury was that of his wife, Clara Ellen Crick. Deceased was 42 years of age. Witness last saw her at 11a.m. on Tuesday, when he left home. She seemed

on account of an operation she had been through. Witness returned at 11.30 at night, but did not see deceased, who was sleeping in another room with a daughter, as was her custom. Witness had not been at work recently but did not have any trouble with his wife before he left home – not a word. That was not the reason for his staying out till 11.30 p.m. Deceased underwent an operation at Bedford Infirmary, and since then had been depressed, seeming to think she would never get any better. She had never threatened to commit suicide, but her father committed suicide three years ago. Witness knew of no reason, apart from the operation, why deceased should take her life. There had been no trouble at home. At about 5.40 that morning, witness was called by his daughter Laura to the back-yard of Mr. Britten’s house opposite and there saw the body of deceased in a soft water tank in the ground. Witness and his two sons got the body out and the doctor was sent for. Deceased had only her nightdress, dressing-gown, stockings, and slippers on. She had not previously wandered out of the house at night.

Laura Crick, daughter of the deceased, said deceased went to bed just before nine o’clock on Tuesday night, apparently in her usual state of health. Witness occupied another bed in the same room, and went to bed at about ten minutes past ten. Deceased was then awake, but when witness woke up between eleven and twelve o’clock she had her eyes shut. At about half-past five in the morning witness woke again and missed her mother. Witness found she was not in her father’s room, so she went across the road to ask Mrs. Britten if deceased was there. On going through Mrs. Britten’s yard, witness noticed that the lid of the well was open, and on looking in saw her mother’s dressing-gown in the water. Deceased had been under an operation at Bedford Hospital, but returned three weeks last Saturday. During the last week, deceased’s head had been very bad and she seemed to think she would never be any better. She had not, however, threatened to commit suicide.

Dr. Greenfield said that at about 6.30 that morning he saw the body of deceased at a house in Allen-road. Death had probably taken place an hour or two previously. The body was quite cold, and witness found no marks of violence on it. Death was due to suffocation from drowning.

In reply to the Coroner, witness said the illness, for which deceased underwent an operation, would be likely to cause depression, if long continued.

Mr. Britten, on whose premises the body was found, and who was a member of the jury, said, in answer to the Coroner, that the lid of the well was shut down at eleven o’clock on Tuesday night.

The jury found that deceased committed suicide while suffering from temporary insanity.