The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1866-10-26 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

PAINFUL SUICIDE OF A MERCHANT. An inquiry was held by Mr. Richards, deputy ooroner, at the Royal Crioketers Tavern, Old Ford, on Monday, relative to the suicide of H. Fernan Felix, aged 36 years, a German merchant. Madame Eugenie Felix, whose evidence was interpreted to the court, eaid lam the widow of the deceased. We lived at No. 40, Sewardetone.rcad Fleet. He was a merchant, and he dealt principally in wines and cigars. Latterly he was very tuifertnuate in business, and he was dejected in consequenoe. Three of his travellers had caused him losses—one had gone off with I,ooof. and goods, and could not be found. My husband had purchased the house in which we lived, but he would not tell me what sum he had given for it. On Wednesday evening last he oame home at seven o'clock, and had • supper of bread and cheese. He was much depreseed on eminent of a packet of good. having been returned. He had sometimes said that he wae tired of Lis life, but he made no threat to commit suicide on that night, or indeed at any time. We went to bed in different rooms, as VISA usual, so that he might not be disturbed by the children, of whom there were four. I heard nothing until Thursday morning at dawn, when I was:frightened by the explosion of a pistol in the next room, where my husband slept. I thought he had shot himself, but I was not sure that there were not robbers in the house, and I was afraid to stir. No one bat the children were in the honer), and no person was in the street, and I could not speak English to make anyone understand me, and I did not know what to do. I prayed for two hours, until I heard people In the street. Then I went into the next room, and there I saw my husband, shot. He was undressed in bed, his right hand being outside the bed clothes, alongside was a donble.barrelled pistol, and blood was over the bed. Upen seeing this I began to scream, and so did the children when I told them that their father was shot. Bat I did not know how to make any English person in the neighbourhood understand what had happened, and I went to some friends in the City, and in two hours they returned with nie, and Dr. Meldola was called in.  Mr. J Pereira, Gascoyne•road, South Hackney, said that he knew the deeeased, and wee aware that he had lost much by dishonest travellers. He had arranged to enter into partnership with a gentleman, and to pay down .C5OO on Wednesday last, but he bad only .£250 in money when the time name. He bought his house from witness, and paid for it. He never said that he was dissatisfied with the bargain. He was a very honourable and high-principled man. His losses seemed to prey greatly on his mind. Mr. Elflauder said that he knew the deceased, who appeared to be much depressed latterly at his fortune. He said that he could do nothing, for every. thing he put his hand to turned out badly. He was until lately in good aircumstanoes- He paid £6OO- for his house only a few month, ago. Mr Barrowe, coroner's officer, said that he found the double-barrelled rifle pistol produced, but there were neither ramrod, powder, nor bullets about the place. One of the barrels only had been discharged. Mr. Raphael Meidols, M.R.C.B , said that he found the deceased quite dead, with a pistol.ehot wound in the right temple. Death must have been instan. taneous. From the position of the body he was of opinion that the shot must have been fired by himself. The coroner having slimmed up, The jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide by shooting himself while in a state of unsound mind.