The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-01-08
+" Mans inhumanity to man,
Makes coun tess millions mourn.n
From the London Erdminer.
DESTITUTION IN THE METROPOLIS.

From the London ErGminer.
DESTITUTION IN THE METROPOLIS.
Once of those cases which should never be pas
sed in silence, there being no remedy for the
evils involved in them but publicity, occurred
not many days since in Marylebone. 1t was an
investigation before 4 c~oroner's jury, concerning
the death of q poor needlewoman named Mary
Alloways, who destroyed herself under the cir
cumstOnccs here detailed:
Ann Jones said she lived in the house market
row, Oxford street, in which deceased lodged.
She last saw her alive on Tuesday evening,
about ten o'clock. On Wednesday morning
witness found her lying on the bed quite dead.
there was a cup, which had contained some IL
quid, by the window. On the table was u letter
which had been written by the wretchod woman
just before her death. 1t produced many tears
amongst the jurymen and spectators. The fol-
lowing Is Il copy of the letter:
"DEAR FRIEND: | have spent many anxious
days and sleepioss nights. | cannot obtain
work; therefore it is impossible | can pay my
rent, and have preserved my watch as the only
means that | have to put me in the ground. |
have hadi it valued $40. I Judge that it will not
cost more than IS to lay me in the grave in a
humble way. The life / now live is miserable
one, and has been for several years. | have no
one to care for me. Heaven is merciful. Yet
4 little while, and this foyerish and unquiet
spirit, most sincerely hope, will be at rest, with
the hope that the Almighty will pardon me-
Wasi sure Of that, | should leave the world with
out the least regret. must chance what many
great people have done before me. ] am obliged
to all my friends that have been kind to me-
Mydcar friend, | hope you will let some one fol-
low me to the grave; but | leave that to you.
| do not wish any one TO know my affairs. You
will do rs you please with my clothes. ! am
sorry to say that / owe Mrs. White this day Sc
ven weeks rent, (Noyember5.) lam very sor-
ry to leave the world in debt. If my clothes
and watch will not pay the expenses Of my flu
neral and rent, it is my wish TO be sent to the
work house. My watch you will find in the
large trunk. Adieu! God bless YOU all! Nv
pen is so bad | fear YOU will net make cut what
have written, and my mind is ogitutcd.
"Mrs. White, Al Castle street, Oxford street"
The poor creature lodged in the back attic CT
the house. She had made no complaint of ILL.,
ness ON the day that she was last seen alive, and
the extent Of her distress wGs not known in the
house. Mrs. Jones, the witness, said deceased
was extremely well behaved woman, and had
been highly educated. They always imagined
she had some trifing income that helped to sup
port her, but since her death they had found
such YVES not the case, but that she supported
herself by the needle. She had lately appeared
very responding, which she stated arose from her
inability to procure work, and the poor wages
she received. She had once or twice adyerted
lately to the double suicide at Kilmanrock, and
said she would rather follow that example than
apply ~forrelief. She had some friends who &C.
caslonally gave her food, but she seldom Ind any
other meals but her breakfast and tea. Mr..
Foxstaif, on examining the stomach and the
dregs of the cup alluded to, found that both con-
tanned oxalic acid, Of which poison she had died.
The deceased had all the appearance of having
been completely starved. The jury returned a
verdict, "That the deceased destroyed herself
by taking oxalic acid, but that there was no
evidence Of the state Of her mind"
The letter when perused produced many
tears, but it is impossible to read this poor crea-
lures story without admiration as well rs pity.
In the character of the victim, it has q far deep
er interest than is commonly to be found in these
distressing narratives; though in the occurrence
itself there Is, unhappily, nothing new. The
coroner, Mr.. Wakeley, said at the time, that he
had within q few days Investigated seven cases
OF deplornble restitution, two of thom in the
parish where this occurred.
What there is most remarkable in the present
example relates to the conduct and sentiments
Of the unhappy suicide. Human nature, per-
haps, seldom exhibits greater beauty and dignity
of feeling than is seen in this protracted hope
less struggle with degradation and famine. The
sconty work, wretchedly paid for, failed a. length
to supply the bare necessaries of existence, not
to speak Of those little sacred decencies Of ap-
pearnnce which such q nature as this poor high
minded woman's, were as essential as the bodily
aliment, the bread and the tea. She was there
fore dying of famine, and the coroner stated that
the body was almost a skeleton. She a~nticipa-
ted, perhaps, by but a few days or weeks, a GER
tain death by starvation, selfdestruction hasten
ing to accomplish the sentence of society, which
had no food or shelter for her. X
1t is to be noted TINT but for this remarkable
letter, written a few hours before her death, the
distress that had been borne would never have
been known. Her neighbors thought she had q
little income; they would have found the trea-
sured watch after death, and wondered why one
who had notbingfo suffer should have DESTROYED
herself. Her confession in the presence of
death tells n sad secret; and makes il fearful toI
think, while the system that crushed her is still
IN full work, how muny thousands may be silent.