The Commonwealth. — 1866-10-20 (London, England)

PAINFUL SUICIDE OF A MERCHANT. An inquiry was held by Mr. Richards, deputy coroner, at the Royal Cricketers Tavern, Old Ford, en Monday, relative to the suicide of M. Fernan Felix, aged 36 years, a German menhant. Madame Eugenie Felix, whose evidence was interpreted to the court, said lam the widow of the deceased. We lived at No. 40, Sewardstone-rcad East. He was a merchant, and he dealt principally in wines and cigars. Latterly he was very unfortunate in business, and he was dejected in consequence. Three of his travellers had caused hin 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 came home at seven o'clock, and had a supper of bread and cheese. Ho was much depressed on acccunt of a packet of goods having been returned. He had sometimes said that he was tired of his life, but he made no threat to commit suicide on that night, or indeed at any time. We nent to bed in different rooms, as was 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 wae:frightesed 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 house, 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 double.barrellcd pistol, and blood wa,, over the bed. Upen seeisie this I began to scream, and so did the children when 1 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 me, and Dr. Meldola was called in.  Mr. J. Pareira, Gascoyne-road, South Hackney, said that he knew the deceased, and was aware that he had lost much by dishonest travellers. He had arranged to enter into partnership with a gentleman, and to pay down £5OO on Wednesday last, but ho had only 4'250 in money when the time came. He bought his hous,, from witness, and paid for it. Ho never said that ho was dissatisfied with the bargain. He was a very honourable and high-principled man. His losses seemed to prey greatly on his mind. Mr. Elflander said that he knew the deceaßed, who appeared to be much depressed latterly at his fortune. He said that he could do nothing, for everything he put his hand to turned out badly. Ho wa, until lately in good circumstance?. Ho paid £6OO for his house only a few months ago. Mr. Burrows, coroner's officer, said that he foune':, the double-barrelled rifle pistol produced, but there were neither ramrod, powder, nor bullets about tha place. One of the barrels only had been discharged. Mr. Raphael Meldola, M.R.C.S , said that he found the deceased quite dead, with a piaol•shot wound in the right temple. Delth must have he;.,n instantaneous. From the position of the body he was of opinion that the ehot must have been fired by himself. The coroner having summed up, The jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide by shooting himself while in a state cf unsound mind.