Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-02-17
BY EARL AYKROID and
WILLIAM CONWAY

Associated Press stan writers
CHICAGO, Feb. II. - VIII
liam Rodriguez trudged home
through rain and snow and
early-morning darkness.
He was only %, in good
health and known as q happy
go-lucky fellow.
Yet he would be dead before
sunrise. apparently Of harsh
poison and easy credit.
How Why?
Police and the coroner are
digging into those questions.
We talked with the widow,
his employer and creditors,
friends and agencies which aid
migrants.
This is what we learned:
William, a native Of Puerto
Rico, had been in the United
States seven years. He and his
wife, Nilda, and their four
Understanding in age from
Ia months to 7 years-lived
in an old but solid apartment
building at 80l South Spauld-
ing avenue on Chicago'S West
Side.
He had worked for Sears
Roebuck & Co. for 16 months.
He filled mail orders. He made
$66 a week, gross.
Flu kept William of his job
the first four days of this
month. He had a physical ex-
animation Friday, February 5.
He was found fit and directed
to return to work Monday.
'In Debt Up to His Neck"
Friends say he spent the
rest of that day and evening
at movies. Detective George
Cohen says William bought rat
poison at a drug store and,
as he walked toward home, ate
it.
He reached his apartment at
2 am. and told his wife what
he had done. Police took him
to Bethany Hospital. He was
given fluids and his stomach
was pumped. A neighbor drove
him home-the family lacked
cab fare-but sharp pains de-
veloped and police brought him
back to the hospital.
Detective Cohen told a coro-
ner's jury that William, just
before he died. explained "he
was in debt up to his neck
and couldn't go on any fur
ther."
In a pocket, Mr.. Cohen testi-
fed at an inquest last Thurs
day, was a bill with an added
warning that, if he didn't pay,
his employer would be notified.
Luis Acevedo, a neighbor,
said William feared he might
lose his job if mis- wages were
garnisheed again.
Stores Offer Credit
Wilfredo Velez. a case worker
for the Knights of st. John, a
Roman Catholic organization
that helps Puerto Ricans, re-
ported that William owed
about $500, in all, when he died.
In the Roosevelt road area
of the West Side, where Will
liam shopped. the most COM
mon window decorations are
signs lettered: Credit"
William bought furniture,
clothing and jewelry IN time.
He gave his wife a wispy re-
ligious medal-price $50. she
said-laSt Mothers Day.
Sears Roebuck reported that:
A finance company had gar
nisheed Williams wages for
5000 for merchandise be OBJ
tanned at one credit store. That
was paid off in six installments.
An acceptance company re-
quested punishment for $34.15
for goods from another store.
and furniture and radio store
asked garnishment to collect
$l67. William made arrange
ments to settle and both gar
nishment requests were with
drawn.
There were no legal attach
ments on Williams pay at the
time of his death.
The widow, Nilda, tiny, dark
eyed, was interviewed while she
nursed her infant son, Ray
mond, from a bottle.
She related that a Spanish
speaking stranger came to her
door one day and handed her a
bedspread.
1T was for a neighbor who
was not at home" she said the