The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1893-11-25 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

POVERTY AND SUICIDE.  "LAST OF ONE OF THE UNEMPLOYED." At St. Mary's-hall, Coventry, on Monday, an inquest was held by Dr. Dille, on the body of Benjamin Robert Klizaoke (47) watch polisher, 230. Bh. Gosford-street. _ _  Edith Harriett Blimoke, daughter of deceased, said her father had been out of employment for the past six or seven months with the exception of • few days. She was not aware that he had been up to the Union for employment. Witness was a "filler" in a silk mill and could earn about 4s. • week, but she had had no work for two months. They had not had more than • shilling a week in the house for two months. Bread only had they eaten, and deoeased had been very low and seemed strange in his manner. He appeared to take no heed of anything. Deceased got up as usual on Saturday. About one o'clock he told her to go out a bit, and she went into the nextdoor neighbour's. Deceased went across the road and immediately returned. She went book in about ten minutes and found the pantry door tied with a piece of string. On the table she found two letters produced. Detective-inspector Golby read the letters as follows :  "Nov. 13, 1893.-1, Benjamin Klimek., 811. 230., Goeford-etreet, Coventry. leave everything belonging to me to my daughter, Edith Harriet Klimek., in the event of death.—B. Ktnecia, Bh. 930., Gosfordstreet, Coventry. Being almost wild through no work, and seeing no signs of getting any at present, I prefer death to the workhouse. I have written to my !aster in London. If the letter reaches her I should think she would come to Coventry and gee to my daughter, if she con in any way do so. Mr. Payne, neker, Goaford-street, will please accept grateful thanks for his kindness in lettiug me have bread. I hope God will prosper him, and he knows If I could have done so I would have paid him. The lust of one of the unemployed of Coventry.-. 8. Untetiz."" 01" Dear Edith,—Yon have now no one to see to you Tea will have the insurance money, over M. Bury me very cheap, and do the best you can with what is left. If the letter I have sent your aunt molls.; her. I dareeay she will take you to London. Be a good girl and do the beet you can. Make as much as you can, for everything is now gone. If yon can get the watch out of pawn, wear it for the sake of your loving father.—B.  N7f---.• Anse*, continuing, said that when she found she could not open the door she called a neighbour named Parker, who found her father hanging by a rope. 'He was not quite dead on being cut down, but the efforts of Dr. Harman Brown and Dr. Phillips failed to resuscitate him. James Parker, sawyer, neighbour of deceased, spoke to cutting down the body. Alderman Warwood said deceased was a member of his early morning class held on Sunday at Clowlane. He attended regularly from October until November sth. Witness had not the slightest idea he was in a state of destitution, because one , of the things the teachers desired to do was to relie,, cases of this character. Demand might have known he would hays been befriended had he made known his ease.  The Coroner said this was one of the saddest sues • jury had had to adjudicate upon in that Court for some time past, and observed there wee • great amount of quiet suffering going on in Coventry. He regretted that, as was sometimes the case with the poor, deceased had been, as it were, too proud to ask for assistance. The Coroner also paid a tribute to the kindness of the baker who had supplied deceased with bread during his poverty. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst temporarily insane," and expressed their thanks to Mr. Payne for his kindness to deceased and to Alderman Worwood for his statement. They also considered that some steps should be taken, if possible, to ameliorate the suffering caused by the present distress in the city. The Coroner endorsed the expression of the jury with respect ts Mr. Patne's oonthiat.