All attempts to discover the whereabouts of Mabel Lillian Harbour, aged 17 (daughter of Mr. Leonard Harbour, of 54, Glassbrook-road, Rushden), who so mysteriously disappeared nearly a month ago, proved fruitless until Monday morning this week when an Irchester labourer, Charles Neal, saw a body floating near the surface of the water of the river Nene at Ditchford. Neal immediately acquainted the station master at Ditchford, and a telephone message was dispatched to Rushden police.
Neal recovered the body from the water and it was subsequently proved to be that of Miss Harbour. She must have been in the river since the day she left her home, Feb. 15th last.
The parents were informed of the discovery but Mrs. Harbour was too ill to attend the inquest. Mr. Harbour was at work when the sad news was taken to him. Although much sympathy is felt with the friends of the girl, the gloom which has spread over the town by the suspense has to some extent been relieved, and the fate of the unfortunate girl is now no longer a mystery. Not the least cause of the parents’ suffering were the many rumours which have gained credence in the town, notwithstanding their extreme improbability. Even now these absurd rumours are still being circulated, but needless to say there is the usual lack of foundation for most of them.
The Inquest
was held at the Police Station, Rushden, on Monday afternoon, by Mr. J. C. Parker, deputy coroner. The jury comprised Messrs. J. R. Brooke, H. Seckington, H. Jaques, H. Bates, T. Fuller, W. J. Wilmott, J. Bettles, J. Barlow, Wm. Barker, F. Tassell, C. W. Barker, and T. Wilmott. Mr. C. W. Barker was chosen foreman of the jury.
Leonard Harbour, father of deceased, and a shoe finisher, of 54, Glassbrook-road, Rushden, identified the body as that of his daughter, who was employed in lift-making. He said he last saw her alive about 7.30 on Saturday, Feb. 14. He was in the house when she left. She did not say where she was going, but went straight out of the house with her hat on as usual. Witness did not ask her where she was going as she often went out like that – it was her way. Nine months ago she had a bad attack of rheumatic fever and had never quite recovered. She had seemed very depressed ever since her illness, although she had since been back to work a good deal. To his knowledge she had never threatened to commit suicide, and he knew of no reason why she should. Witness was surprised at her doing so, although he knew she had been very depressed ever since Christmas.
By the Coroner : She had not said that she was tired of her life to anyone that he knew of. She was not in the habit of going down to the river for a walk on a Saturday night; she would never go out for more than ten minutes or so, and had certainly no business down by the river. She was last attended by a doctor about five weeks ago. She suffered with her legs, which might have made her more depressed. She was always complaining about her legs being so bad. She seemed about as usual on the day she left home.
The Coroner; Has she ever told your wife she was going to drown herself? – Witness : I have not heard her say so herself. As regards what she did say, we did not take much notice.
Did you hear your wife say in the presence of Insp. Bailey that deceased had said she was tired of her life? – Yes, sir.
Had she ever said anything like that before?
Not that I know of, sir.
The Foreman: Was she in full work or on short time? – Witness: She was in full work when she was able to go.
Mr. W. G. Wilmott: Had she any other troubles that would be likely to play upon her mind beside the reason of her illness? – Witness: No, sir.
The Foreman: No trouble at home in her domestic life? – Witness: No, sir.
Mr. Bettles: Was there any worry between her and her mother? – Witness: No, sir. She would not answer if we said anything to her.
The Coroner: Has she been peculiar in her habits? – Witness: She used to do a great deal of reading. She would read the Bible a lot and would not go out to any place of amusement at all.
Mr. Brooke: Before her illness she used to be a very “close” girl? – Witness: Yes, sir, and she has been more so since.
The Discovery
Charles Neal, iron-stone labourer, Irchester, said at 7 o’clock that morning he was walking from Irchester to his work, which took him past Ditchford Station. As he was crossing the first bridge he noticed the head of someone in the water. He afterwards found it was the girl Harbour. He notified the station master, who telephoned for the police. He got the body out, and waited the arrival of the police. The body was about 22 yards below the bridge.
The Coroner said he did not order a post-mortem examination as he considered it quite unnecessary. It seemed almost impossible that the girl had not herself committed suicide. She had been peculiar sometimes since about nine months ago. She had been a big reader of the Bible and had got into a morbid, miserable state, until apparently she told her mother she would drown herself.
The jury returned a verdict of “Suicide whilst temporarily insane.”
The Funeral
A very impressive funeral took place at the cemetery, Rushden, on Wednesday afternoon, when about 200 people were present to witness the last sad rites. The Rev. P. J. Richards (Vicar of St. Peter’s, Rushden) officiated at the service at the grave side. The coffin was of polished elm with brass fittings, and bore the inscription :-
MABEL HARBOUR
Died February 14, 1914
Aged 17 years.
The chief mourners were :- Mr. and Mrs. L. Harbour (father and mother), Misses Beatrice, Alice, Doris, and Minnie Harbour (sisters), Mr. and Mrs. David King (grandfather and grandmother), Mrs. F. Bryant (aunt), Mr. Frank King (uncle), Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Layrum (aunts), Mr. and Mrs. David Harbour (uncle and aunt), Mrs. Hopper and Mrs. Chas. Harbour (aunts).
There were some beautiful floral tributes, amongst them being the following :-
With loving memory of our dear daughter, from mother and father.
How hard it is to part from her
We held on earth so dear,
The heart no greater trial knows,
No sorrow more severe.
With deepest sympathy, from Grandfather, Uncle Frank, and Kate. At rest.
With deepest sympathy, from Uncle Fred and Aunt Pollie.
In loving remembrance, from Grandma, Uncle Fred, and Elsie. Gone, but not forgotten.
With deepest sympathy from Aunties Alice, Florrie, and Beatrice. Peace, perfect peace.
Messrs. Clark and Sanders carried out the funeral arrangement.
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Harbour and family desire to convey their heartfelt thanks to all who have sent messages of kindness and shown sympathy with them in their great sorrow.
