GAMBLING RUIN

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 133, 29 February 1936, Page 20

GAMBLING RUIN

Thrift Club Official’s End

“These one-man clubs are most unsatisfactory, obviously undesirable, and ought to be made impossible. The sooner ah Act is passed to deal with the iinonialy the better.” Dr. Edwin Smith, the Battersea coro.lier, made these observations about slate clubs at the inquest on Elias Humbert, ".'6O, a G.B.O.‘clerical officer, residing in TrepofE.? .'Street, Wandsworth, S.W., who shot himself on Wandsworth Common and died in St. James’s Hospital. He was-the treasurer of a slate club, and over £2OO is believed to be missing. The: widow, Mrs. Kate Humbert, who was greatly distressed While giving evidence; said her husband had" lately appeared .worried,’ but otherwise ; his health was good. ’ Coroner: You'knew he was treasurer of the Blythe Road Post Office Thrift Club in West Kensington, and collected subscriptions every week? —Yes. Were you aware that lately he had made a habit .bf attending dbg: races? —Only through what he told me. . Mrs. Humbert added that her husband kept a revolver for his own personal protection. The night before the tragedy he' was in a cheerful mood when - he sat'.down ■ and wrote some letters. •He left the house to post the letters and did,not return. Coronbr:- Next morning you received a letter ;in your’husband’s handwrit-ing?—-Yes.

In-that letter did he announce his intention of taking his own life?—Yes. I telephoned, the-police at oiice, and they; ■ told ’me my husband had, been found shot ‘on Wandsworth Common. He died'in the hospital before my arrival.'' 1 ' P.C. Rendell told the coroner that saw Humbert on a. seat on Wandsworth Common. He had a bullet

wound in his .head, and a revolver lay under the sent.

The coroner mentioned; Hint Humbert had written a long letter to West Hill Police Station, in which be stated, “I beg Io inform you that by the time yon get this letter.’ I shall'be dead. I am a ruined num.” The note, added IT. Smith, gave a detailed account of his connection with the club and regretted the trouble lie had caused everybody. Mr. John Harris, executive officer of Blythe Road Post Office Savings Bank, said Humbert had been employed there since 1919. There were no.irregularities in connection with bis official work.

Witness did not know previous to this tragedy that Humbert was running a money club,' but he had since ascertained that 14 members of the staff belonged 'to it. The management was entirely in Humbert’s own hands, and about £2OO was involved so far us the office members were concerned. The coroner read from the letter sent by deceased, to his wife. “Forgive me,” it said, “and I hope God will forgive me for the step I am about to take.”

Apparently, added Dr. Smith, this man had got into, the habit of gambling in a desperate hope that lie might get straight in his money matters and responsibilities to members of the club.

lit recording a verdict of suicide while of unsound mind, the coroner made the remark about slate clubs already quoted and added, “The poor man was evidently worried and dis-' fraught, and obviously not of sound mind at the time.”