For the second time in a little over seven months, the body of a young woman was recovered from the lake in Wardown Park.
On October 22nd, 1915 the body of 18-year-old Elsie Ritchie was found with a photograph of a soldier pinned over her heart. On June 6th, 1916, a 16-year-old girl identified as Ethel Watts was found by a soldier while rowing on the lake, although no love affair came to light in this case.
John William Corkett, a private in the 3/7th London R.F.A. found Ethel's body while boating on the lake at around 3 o'clock in the afternoon. He quickly took steps to have the body recovered, and it was then removed to the mortuary at the Town Hall.
At an inquest at the Luton Court House on June 8th, it was revealed that Ethel was a native of Blunham, Beds, who, along with her sister, was employed at the Diamond Foundry in Dallow Road. She had been living for some time in rooms at 38 Regent Street, Luton.
Ethel had been at the foundry as usual on Tuesday morning until half-past ten, when she put on her clothes and went out, as she appeared to have done on previous occasions when work did not go smoothly. When her body was recovered from the lake at 3 o'clock a watch was found on her that had stopped at 18 minutes past 12, suggesting she had been in the water for over two hours.
The inquest was told that Ethel had been in delicate health for some time and had received medical attention. She appeared to be a girl of an impulsive and worrying nature and it may be she had left work in a fit of temper, without saying a word to anyone.
The body was identified by Annie Watts, her sister, who lived at 6 Lyndhurst Road, Luton. She said Ethel had worked at the Diamond Foundry for just over two weeks, and when she arrived there on the Tuesday morning she complained of a headache. She thought her sister had gone home because she was not feeling well. She had been under Dr Sworder for nerve weakness and was given to hysterics.
Wardown Park Superintendent Edward West said he found Ethel's body in water about four feet deep and seven or eight yards from the bank on the quietest part of the lake.
The coroner recalled Miss Watts, who said her sister was not engaged and was not involved in any love affair that she knew of.
Before the jury returned an open verdict of "found drowned," Deputy Coroner Mr G. J. M. Whyley said they had heard that the girl was of nervous temperament and addicted to hysteria. Under some uncontrollable impulse she had thrown herself in the water at a time when she was not responsible for her actions.
[The Luton News: Thursday, June 8th, 1916]