The mystery of the strange disappearance from Rushden – reported exclusively at the time in the “Rushden Echo” – of Mrs. Partridge, wife of John Partridge, of 12, Park-road, Rushden, who is well-known as an out-porter at the Midland Railway Station at Rushden – has now been solved, the unfortunate woman’s body having been recovered from the river Nene near Thrapston. It appears that at about 2 p.m. on Monday the little daughter of Mr. D. H. Hipwell, of Islip Mills, was on her way to school; and when near the low-shot on the back-water of the River Nene, she saw in the water the body of a woman. She called her father. Mr. Hipwell, with assistance, got the body out of the water, and Inspector Campion took charge of it. The body was that of a middle-aged woman with grey hair, and on the left hand was a thin wedding ring. It was evident that the body had been in the water a considerable time, as decomposition was advanced, and the

Features Much Disfigured

The clothing included a three-quarter length dark grey coat, black skirt, white under-skirt, and black stockings, with lace-up shoes. There was a rope tied round the waist, and in the coat pocket (presumably for weight) was a chisel, some nails and screws, two whetstones, and a file. In the skirt pocket was a purse containing 15s 6¼d.

Inspector Campion made inquiries, as the result of which he had no doubt that the body was that of Mrs. Ellen Partridge, aged 58, of Park-road, Rushden, who had been missing from her home since February 22nd. The remains were identified by a small hole in the wedding ring, and five tucks on the skirt, which were in accordance with the description given to the police.

The body, which had been caught in a chain, was conveyed to the Woolpack Inn. The unfortunate woman was supposed to be

Suffering From Religious Mania

The husband was at once communicated with, Mr. J. C. Parker, Coroner, held an inquest at the Woolpack, Islip. On Tuesday, when John Partridge (the husband) and Amelia Partridge (daughter) gave evidence of identification of clothes, but not of the body, owing to decomposition. They recognised articles found as the husband’s property. They stated that deceased belonged to a religious sect known as “Seventh Day Adventists.” This had preyed on her mind. A verdict of “Suicide during temporary insanity” was returned by the jury.

The Inquest

The first witness at the inquest was the husband, John Partridge, who said he was an out-porter on the Midland Railway. He could not identify the features owing to the advanced state of decomposition, but he identified his wife’s coat and a chisel and other articles found on the body. He first missed her on February 22, and up to then she had been in perfectly good health. His wife, whose age was 58, prepared tea on that day, and after leaving he never saw her again. She left no message, and as she did not return he thought she had gone to her daughter’s. She had no domestic or money troubles that he knew of, and he could not account in any way for her disappearance. She had lived at Islip as a little girl, and it was quite a mystery that she should come over there. Her mother had been in an asylum, and died there, but he was not aware of any other member of the family being in an asylum. His wife had shown a

Good Deal of Religious Zeal

of late, and that might account for her mind becoming unsettled. After leaving the house deceased did not return, and they thought she had gone to her daughter’s at Luton. They telegraphed to Luton to see if she was there, and found she was not. Witness had a sister at Raunds, and on the Saturday his daughter went to Raunds to see if his wife was there, but she was not. He kept making inquiries, but could find no trace of her, and on the Sunday he told the police. She had been away twice before since he married her, without saying anything to anybody. It was a very long time since she went away.

The Coroner: Why did she go away on this occasion? – I cannot account for it.

She was in no trouble? – Not that I am aware of, she owed nobody anything.

There had been

No Quarrel

or domestic difficulties? – No, sir, not the least; I cannot account for it.

Was she a native of Rushden? – I believe she was born at Rushden and was brought to Islip, where she lived for years, but she has been at Rushden for 40 years. She used to go from Islip to Thrapston school.

Did she ever talk about going back to Islip, or want to go there? – No, sir.

What made her come here? – I cannot say; it is a mystery to me.

Had she been attended by a doctor for anything lately? – No, sir; she had not had a doctor in her life for any bodily illness.

Was she at all

Strange In Her Ways

ever? – She has not been of late at all. I cannot say exactly in what way deceased was strange. Her mother was strange. I cannot say that my wife did anything particular; she did nothing serious. I do not know that she did things I cannot account for. Her father died in Wellingborough Union – only of old age.

Insp. Campion: Did you say anything to the police then as to the cause of her leaving home? – Witness: I could not give them any cause why she left home.

Did you say to the police that she was suffering from religious mania? – Yes, my wife belonged to the Gospel Hall at Rushden – the

Seventh Day Adventists

who keep the Sabbath on Saturday. She had shown a great deal of religious zeal lately.

The Coroner: Perhaps she had done too much? – Witness: I quite think so.

Amelia Partridge, daughter of deceased, said she was not at home on Feb. 22, and did not see her mother on that day. She last saw her mother the previous Sunday. Witness went to Luton. On Friday they telegraphed to her at Luton, which was the first she heard of her mother’s disappearance. She did not know why her mother went away. She identified deceased’s boots, hair, coat, etc. she had heard her mother talk about Islip a lot.

The Coroner: She said nothing bad about it? – Witness: No; she thought a great deal of Islip. She went to school at Thrapston. She had not heard her mother say she would like to go back to Islip, but she had said she would like to come down for a holiday – but she had not mentioned it lately. Her mother went to a place of worship, which witness thought

Preyed On Her Mind

really too much.

The Coroner: She was religiously overdone? – Witness: Yes.

Sometimes it weighs on people’s minds unnecessarily? – It is called the Seventh Day Adventists.

She was not in any trouble that you know of? – None whatever. She had pretty good health, but had lately aged a good deal.

Insp. Campion, of Thrapston, said that on Monday afternoon Mr. Hipwell, of Islip Mill, sent for him. He went to the Low Shot and saw the body in the Nene. A chain suspended from the bridge downwards had caught her and was holding her. With assistance he got the body out. He

Searched The Body

and found various articles in the pockets of the coat, including a chisel, nails, screws, whetstones, file, etc. The cord produced was tied round the waist, and was broken in one place. In a purse on deceased was 15/6¼. He received on March 5th a description of a woman missing from Rushden, and the clothing corresponded with the clothing worn by deceased. There had been no one missing from the Thrapston neighbourhood so far as he knew.

Dr. Lascelles said he was called to see the body, which he considered had been in the water about four weeks and had every appearance of being drowned.

The jury returned a verdict of “Suicide during temporary insanity.”