The report that a man’s body had been found in a stable on the Bedford-road, near Rushden, created a painful sensation in the town. Investigation proved that the report was true and that the corpse was apparently that of a tramp, about 50 years of age. The discovery was made by Mr. H. Newman, of Kettering, who has a field on the Bedford-road, Rushden, near the Bedfordshire boundary. Mr. Newman had not visited the field for about six weeks prior to Saturday. On going to it on that day he noticed that the top door of a stable near the hedge was open and on looking in was horrified to find the decomposed body of a man, partially hidden in some straw. Information was at once given to the police, who had the body removed to the Compass Inn. The Inquest The gruesome circumstances formed the subject of an inquiry on Monday evening at the Compass Inn by Mr. J. Cairns Parker, Deputy Coroner. Mr. H. H. Hobbs was foreman of the jury. The first witness called was Dr. Owen, who said that on Sunday at 11 a.m. he saw the body in the barn at the Compass Inn. The body was stripped, and witness found that part of the face and eyes had been eaten off, probably by rats. There were holes behind the ears and on the neck, probably caused in the same way. The flesh of the hands had also disappeared. The body was very much emaciated. All the ribs could be counted and the abdomen was drawn in and black. The external organs were black and gangrenous. There were no marks of violence on the body, and apparently there were no bones broken. The man probably lay down straight, as he was found, and died in his sleep. Witness concluded, from the appearance of the body, that deceased had phthisis, and was consequently exhausted by the cold. The man could not have been so thin unless he had been practically starved. Death would be the result of exposure and in witness’ opinion had taken place three weeks or more ago. A post-mortem examination would have answered no purpose, the body being in such a decomposed state. Herbert James Newman, of 43, Edmund-street, Kettering, machine operator, said he had a small holding on the Bedford-road, about three miles from Rushden, and had a stable on it. On Saturday witness visited the stable at about 5 o’clock and noticed that the top door, which was locked when witness previously visited it, was open. The door had been broken open. On looking into the stable witness saw a man’s body on its side on the straw, and saw at once that there was no life in it. Witness informed the police. It was six weeks since witness visited the premises previously. There was nothing there in the shape of food. In reply to Inspector Dunn, the witness said there were a number of rats in the locality. P.S. Judge said he went with the previous witness on Saturday evening to the stable mentioned. Witness found the body lying in the stable, partially covered with straw. The body was on its back, with the hands lying on the chest. Death had probably taken place in the man’s sleep. Witness had the body removed to the Compass Inn and examined the clothing, but found nothing whatever which could lead to identification. In the stable was a tin such as is usually carried by tramps and containing a few tea leaves. Witness had made inquiries but had not been able to find out anything about the man. In witness’ opinion, the man would be about 50 years of age. He had black hair, black curly whiskers and moustache, was 5 ft. 8 in. in height, wore white corduroy trousers, navy blue jacket, grey plaid vest, grey worsted stockings, very old lace-up shoes, red plaid muffler, and an old red flannelette shirt. All the clothing was very old, and the jacket was fastened up with wire instead of buttons. There were no birthmarks on the body. The Coroner, in summing up, said it was probable that deceased was tramping along the road, felt tired, pulled out the staple, lay down and died in his sleep. The jury found that death was caused by exposure and returned a verdict to that effect.