Late on Saturday night, after telling an acquaintance that they would not meet again, Frank Fensome, greengrocer, of 214, Wellingborough-road, Rushden, went to his stable in Moor-road and hanged himself to a beam in the loft.

An inquiry into the circumstances was held on Monday afternoon at the Oakley Inn by Mr. J. Cairns Parker, Deputy Coroner, Mr. T. Eady was chosen foreman of the jury.

The widow, Elizabeth Fensome, identified the body as that of her husband, who was 45 years of age. She last saw deceased between 11 and 12 o’clock on Saturday morning, when he was in his usual state of health. He made no threat of taking his life. Deceased usually got his round done at about 5.30 in the afternoon, and as he did not come home she sent a boy down to the stables to see if he was there. He was not there though the pony was, and she sent down again at half-past nine but he was not there then. Witness went to bed at about 11.30. Deceased had not put in an appearance, though it was not unusual for him to reach home at an even later hour.

The Coroner: Do you know of any reason why he should take his life?

Witness: No Sir; only little difficulties in money matters.

What difficulties? – He had a County Court summons.

Has he ever threatened suicide? – No, Sir; only when he had a bad week’s trade, he had said he would take his hook.

You know of no other trouble? – Only these money matters. On Thursday we had a few words over the County Court summons.

Did the deceased tell you when he went out that he should not come home? – Yes, Sir; he said “This is my last day here.”

What did you think that meant? – I didn’t know what he meant. When he didn’t come home I began to think he had gone away.

Why didn’t you inform the police on Saturday night? – I didn’t quite know what I was doing, I’m sure.

In reply to further questions, witness said deceased was not always a sober man, but he always gave her her money regularly – 18/- a week.

Arthur Edward Starmer, butcher, 2 Midland-road, said that on Sunday morning at about a quarter to nine he heard that deceased had not been home all night. Witness went to deceased’s stable and found the doors unlocked. He then went up into the loft and found deceased’s body hanging from a beam. Witness, with assistance, cut him down. The body was quite stiff. Witness knew deceased well, but had never heard him threaten to commit suicide, though he had complained that business was not very grand.

Peter Nowell said he saw deceased at about half-past seven at the Windmill Club. Fensome started talking about his troubles and said he never thought he would rear a boy who would fight him. Witness asked him if his troubles were financial and he said “Not altogether.” When deceased left, he said: “Good-night; this is the last time you will see me.” Deceased seemed very depressed, but witness thought he would go away, not that he would commit suicide. Deceased did not seem in his usual state of mind. Witness had never seen him under the influence of drink.

P.C. Packer said that he was called on Sunday morning and in a stable found the body of deceased. There was a rope attached to a beam. On searching the body a number of bills were found, mostly paid, but nothing to indicate the state of deceased’s mind. There was 16/8 in the pockets.

Dr. Ellwood said he was called at about 9.15 to a stable in Moor-road, where he saw deceased’s body. Death had taken place nine or ten hours previously, and was due to strangulation. There were no marks of violence on the body except the marks on the neck caused by the rope.

The Coroner, in summing up, said it seemed quite clear what the cause of death was, but the jury had to decide as to the state of deceased’s mind.

A verdict of “Suicide while temporarily insane” was returned.