Yesterday morning the body of Thomas Litchfield, aged 63, of Duck-street, Rushden, who was well known in the town as “Canny-man,” was found on the Midland Railway, near the Washbrook-road bridge, Rushden. It was terribly cut about, some of the brains being found about 20 yards from where the body lay, and the right arm was torn from the trunk. The legs were doubled up as though the body had been thrown round by the wheels of the train.

THE INQUEST

was held last night at the Railway Hotel, by Mr. Parker, jun., deputy coroner.  Mr. George Miller was foreman of the jury.

The first witness was the widow, Mrs. Litchfield, who said: I last saw my husband on Wednesday night, when he went out after tea.  He was 63 years of age and was a shoemaker.  He had been drinking on and off ever since Tuesday week.  He had had drink yesterday but did not seem much the worse for it. He has never threatened to commit suicide. He often complained of his head, having been thrown out of a trap some years ago, and said at times that no one knew how he suffered. Last night I sat up till two o'clock, wondering where he was. The paper produced is in his handwriting.

Mr. Amos Wright said: Last night about 5.15 I saw deceased. I was in my field near the line and he was in a field on the opposite side of the railway, about 20 yards from the line. I shouted to him, "Are you lost?" in a joking manner, and he replied "œI think I am." He came to the fence and we had a short conversation. I noticed nothing strange in his manner. He might have had drink but I did not consider him the worse for drink. He was not quite so talkative as usual. I went back to the field at about 6.45 and saw him in just about the same place as before. Several men from the sewage works came along, and as soon as he saw them he went away, and returned when they had gone. I had a meeting to attend then, and left him there. I thought it rather strange to see him there the second time.

Wm. Baker, of Moor-road, an engine driver at the brick works, said: This morning at 5.30 I was walking down the line going to work when I saw a man lying in the four foot way. I saw he was dead, so went back and called the foreman platelayer. I was on the top of the cutting and did not go down. I saw no marks of a struggle.

P.C. Wallis: About 5.30 this morning I was on duty in High-street. From information I received I accompanied the foreman platelayer to a place near the Washbrook-road railway bridge, where I found deceased lying in the four foot way, quite dead and cold. He had no coat or hat. The left forearm was mutilated, and there was a large hole in his forehead. Further down the line I found deceased’s coat, folded up, and in the pocket was an envelope on which was written, “My head.”  Half way between the coat and the body I found some flesh, which appeared to me to be brains. I knew deceased, who was accustomed to drink, and not very fond of work. There was no train on the line from 9.55 last night to 7.15 this morning.

Verdict, "Suicide while temporarily insane."€