High St Broadway, Broadway, Worcestershire, England

High St Broadway, Broadway, Worcestershire, England

Widow is found dead in Severn

An inquest will be held next Wednesday on a woman who was found dead in the River Severn at Tewkesbury early last Tuesday morning. She is Mrs. Doris Manners, widow of a Cheltenham butcher, Mr. I. B. J. Manners of 11, Fairfield-road.

The body, which was fully dressed, was seen floating downstream at 6.45 a.m. I t was discovered by Mr. Frederick Remmer, of Forthampton Post Office, as he was cycling over the Mythe Bridge. At the time he was on his way to Tewkesbury to catch a bus to Bishop's Cleeve, where he works.

Mr Remmer informed the police, P.C. Laver and Mr. B. Sweet recovered the body, which was taken to Tewkesbury mortuary.

Mrs. Manners had been reported missing from her home earlier in the morning. Her husband died after a long illness on Feburary 6. He had three businesses in the High-street and one in Whaddon-road.

Six children, all between the ages of 16 and 24, all are in the family business.

"SUICIDE" LETTER

Family Did Their Best For Widow

"I have been impressed with the fact that the family did thall they could for this deceased lady, and that they have no reason whatever to feel that their mother's death was due to anything they had failed to do."

These remarks were made by the Borough Coroner (Dr. W. H. Shephard) at the conclusion of an inquest in Tewkesbury Town Hall last Wednesday on Mrs. Doris Manners, aged 43, widow of a Cheltenham butcher, Mr. L. B. J. Manners, of 11, Fairfield-road. Her body was recovered from the Severn at Tewkesbury early on the morning of August 11.

The jury returned a verdict that she committed suicide while the balance of her mind was disturbed.

Mrs. Olive Doreen Cross, of 6, Queen's Parade, Cheltenham, a daughter of Mrs. Manners, said that since the death of her (witness's) father last February her mother seemed to be very depressed. On some days she was more depressed than on others.

NECK MARKED

About June 8, Mrs. Manners left a note to say that she had gone to Broadway to visit her mother, who was not well. Actually her mother was not ill. Mrs. Manners was heard to return at 1 a.mm., and at 8.30 next day witness's sister, Eileen, told her that her mother was in a depressed condition and that her face and neck were marked.

"I called in her doctor to see her," said Mrs. Cross. "After the doctor had examined mother he told me that he thought that she had attempted to strangle herself. He suggested that she should go into hospital for treatment. She agreed to go as a voluntary patient to Barnwood Mental Hospital.

APPEARED CHEERFUL

"As a result of the treatment there she appeared to be very much better and she told me that she was feeling better fot the rest. After she had been in the hospital for six weeks I had an interview with the medical officer of the hospital. He advised that she should remain there another fortnight and she did so."

Mrs. Cross added that on August 5 she fetched her mother from the hospital as arranged. On that afternoon she appeared to be well and pleased to be home. "I visited mother from time to time and on each occasion she appeared cheerful.

"On Monday, August 10, I saw mother outside my flat with her car. One of my sisters was driving. I asked her how she was and she said that she was alright. This was the last time I saw her.

LEFT LETTER

"Mother left at 9 o'clock and on Tuesday, August 11, a Mrs. Victor Lane called to see me. She showed me a letter she had received from my mother. After reading this letter I gathered from it that mother intended to take her life. Some time later my sisters arrived and told me that mother had disappeared. I was informed that there was a letter at the shop addressed to me. I t was written by mother and had been posted at 7.30 p.m. on August 10."

Mrs. Cross stated that the family had done everything possible for Mrs. Manners in the last six months.

The two letters were then handed to the foreman of the jury, but their contents were not read publicly.

Geoffrey Manners, of 11 Fairfield-road, Cheltenham, son of Mrs. Manners, said that he lived at the same address as his mother and three sisters. After his mother came home from hospital on August 5 he got the impression that she was a lot better.

"HAD NICE TIME"

On August 9 he took her out for a drive in the car. She said that she had enjoyed the run and seemed better that day. "While I was out," said Mr. Manners, "I noticed that she was a bit shy of meeting anyone we knew. She went off to bed that night quite cheerful and got up the next morning quite cheerful."

On the Monday, when he came home from lunch two of his sisters were going out with her. She was again quite cheerful. In the afternoon his sisters and a friend took his mother out in a sidecar. They came home about 10 p.m.

"I asked how she was," continued Mr. Manners, "and she said: 'I had a nice time and enjoyed myself.' She said 'Good night' that night in the ordinary way, and she was fully dressed and quite normal."

Next morning at 8.40 he got information that she had gone and had been found at Tewkesbury.

BRUISES ON SHINS

P.C. Laver said that at 6.45 a.m. on August 11, after receiving a report, he went to the Severn near the Mythe Bridge. There he saw the body of a woman floating in the water. He obtained a boat and brought it to a landing stage nearby.

Leslie William Henry Cross, of 6, Queen's Parade Cheltenham, said he identified the body as that of his mother-in-law.

Dr J.D. Wilkinson said that he examined the body. There were bruises on both the woman's shins, but no other injuries. The body had been in the water for not more than twelve hours. Death was due to drowning.

The Coroner and the foreman of the jury expressed sympathy with the relatives.