At the time suicide was considered a mortal sin, and those who committed it would have been denied a Christian burial.

There was also a belief that suicides would not rest easy in their graves, and that their unquiet ghosts would inevitably haunt the area where they died if precautionary measures were not taken.

For this reason, it was common to bury suicides at a crossroads, the logic being that if thus buried their restless spirit would not be able to find its way home to cause trouble.

However, years later it was revealed that someone had been seen climbing a ladder up to Mr. Condive's bedroom window shortly before his body was found and that his death may have actually been the result of murder.

As a result, Condive's body was dug up again and returned to the church at Charlbury where it was given a proper Christian burial!