The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-18 00:00:00

FRIGHTFUL SUICIDE BY A LADY

AT BOOTLE.

Seldom has it fallen to the lot of a journalist to record
a more melancholy case of self-destruction, nor one
under more painful circumstances, than that which we
present to the public this day. No doubt it will be in
the recollection of the public that in July Mr. Holds-
worth, a gentleman well known and respected, and who
held an appointment in the Post-office, met his death by
being accidentally drowned whilst bathing at New
Brighton. He left a widow and five daughters—the
oldest not fifteen, the youngest under three years of age.
The shock to Mrs. Holdsworth was so sudden and se-

vere that her reason became affected, and she has been
quite idiotic since that time. With her children she
went to reside in the house of her brother, Mr. Knowles
(who holds an appointment in the General Post-office),
at 7, Lower Mersey-view, Bootle ; and the utmost at-
tention was paid to her by her brother and his children,
who cherished great affection for theepoor unhappy lady.
Some time ago she bad an attack of paralys; ~ and, one
side of her body was, in consequence, seriously affected,
and became quite useless. Her mental affliction in-
creased until she seemed to have lost all traces of the
world and everything about her. She remained
in this lamentable state up to Saturday morning,
when she was left alone for about two minutes, and
during this brief period she destroyed herself by
cutting her throat with a razor. It was a sad
and afflicting sight to see the poor little children
who, but a couple of months since were blessed with
parents, now bereft of both, and left on the world with-
out, comparatively, any provision being made for them.
It will be remembered that at the time of Mr. Holds-
worth's death a number of merchants and other gentle-
men entered into a subscription for the deceased lady
and the children, as there was no provision made by the
post-office. The matter was placed in the hands of Mr.
Bales, superintendent of letter-carriers, and that gentle-
man, with a degree of zeal that reflects credit on him,
prosecuted the affair, as far as his limited time would
permit, but as he could not find leisure to call on all
who were anxious to subscribe, perhaps the present me-
lancholy occasion will be taken by such gentlemen as
wish to assist the poor little orphans. We should be
glad to receive any contributions for this laudable nur-
pose. The borough coroner having been apprised of the
melancholy fact, summoned a highly respectable jury,
of which Duncan Gibb, Eeq., was foreman, and pro-
ceeded to the house of Mr. Knowles, at Bootle, where
the body lay. The deceased lady had just entered on
her 40th year. The following evidence was given before
the jury. Mr. Knowles said--I am brother of the ee-
ceased Elizabeth Holdsworth. She was in a very low
desponding state since the death of her husband in July,
and bad gradually become worse. Last night she ap-
peared quite unconscious of what she was doing. She
had a paralytic stroke about five weeks since, and the
use of all ono side wars quite gone. From the man-
ner she worked her anew last night I think she
had another stroke. I Went into her bedroom at five
o'clock in the morning to bid her good morning, as I
invariably did before leaving for the office. She did not
appear to know me. I went away at five minutes past
five, and when in town I was sent for, and on my return
saw her with her throat cat, and quite dead.
Miss Agnes Knowles, daughter of the last witness,
and niece of the deceased, was examined. She said the
deceased did not go to bed at all during the night. I
walked the room up to two o'clock with her, and my
sister relieved me for the remainder of the night. The
deceased was in a desponding state since July, and got
worse every day. Since the paralytic attack she did not
appear to know where she was, or who were about her.
Since last Monday she was quite deranged, and fre-
quently Walked the bed-room all night. About a quar-
ter before seven I went to the door of her room again,
and found it locked on the inside. I looked through
the keyhole, and then went round and got into the room
again through the window. Deceased was lying on the
floor, quite dead. I saw two razors with blood on them
—one on the floor beside her, and one on the table.
Her throat was cut, and she was then dead. My sister
had left her about a minute-and-a-half or two minutes,
and in that time the deceased must have committed the
rash act. The jury said they bad heard quite enough
evidence, and at once found for their verdict that the
unfortunate lady was out of her mind, and that whilst
in that state she had put an end to her life.
.Mr. Gibb, the foreman of the jury, asked Mr. Knowles
if there was any provision made by the post-office for
Mr. Holdsworth ? Mr. Knowles replied there was not.
Mr. Gibb--Hoar much had he a-year ? 150/. ; but he
had not that always. Mr. Gibb—Then his poor children
must have been left quite destitute ; for he could not
have saved anything, having to bring up his family,
and at the same time support himself in his sphere of
life; out'of 1501. a-year. I wish we could make a pre-
sentment or representation to the post-office on this
point ; but I fear we cannot. The coroner said the
people employed about the post-office were the worst
paid men on the face of the earth. He instanced a case
of a man in this neighbourhood, in Cheshire, who was
out winter and summer at half-past four in the morning,
and who did not return until 7 or 8 o'clock in the even-
ing, and he was rewarded for this with the munificent
sum of Bs. a week. The jury said it was a downright
disgrace to the authorities. Mr. Gibb suggested a sub-
scription, and said ho would be happy to promote it for
the benefit of the poor little children. Mr. Bales, of the
poet-office said, at the time of Mr. Holdsworth's death,
a number of merchants and other gentlemen did sub-
scribe, but as he (Mr. Bales) bad not time to wait on
many, no doubt more would have been collected for the
poor orphans. He was sure, however, that the present
melancholy state of the children would not be presented
in vain to the ever benevolent people of Liverpool. Mr
Gibb said he would at once commence by handing in his
subscription. This he did liberally, and his example was
followed in the earne-spirit by Mr. Hornby, Mr. IDuns-
ford, and Mr. Young (jurors). The proceedings then
terminated,
.00111 Thllo.