“BEATEN ALL ROUND"

Evening Star, Issue 14184, 8 October 1909, Page 7

“BEATEN ALL ROUND"

Pathetic letters were read at am inquest held at "Wandsworth on Alfred Hofmeyer, aged twenty-three, a watchmaker, of James street, Oxford street, who wss found dead on the London, and South-Western Railway at Putney. The young man’s father, also a watch/maker, living in Moore Park road, Fulham, said his son had a business of hisown. So far as the witness knew, he had no financial worries, and .though he was engaged, he had no love troubles. A letter found in Hofmeyer’s waisteoast pocket read as follows; To those whom it concerns. It will no doubt surprise you all at my foolish act of suicide. When a imm is beaten all round, and finds' nil is lost, and cannot regain himself, there is nothing left for him to do but this. It seems very hard that I, young, healthy, and strong, with the world before me. should come to this, hut it must be. I pray God to help those, whom I have caused so much trouble to forget, me. I cannot say much more, but with tears in my eyes pray you will forgive me pay act-. "Good- , bye, my father, brother, sisters, and my darling sweetheart, Ethel. Oh, my darling sweetheart! If I could only have you in my arms and take one last kiss from you I would die happier. I ask you to do me one last favor. Say a prayer to God asking Him to forgive me my sin. Each time I came to sec you I had intended to die, but when I saw you something stayed me. Another letter, addressed to his brother, read: “My dear brother, I hope to repay you in the next world. Good-bye. (jkd jbless you.—Alfred.”- { A razor was found on Hofmeyer’s body. ' Dr Gay said that the body appeared as j though it had been jammed deliberately j between the rails, the feet being under one j set of rails and the shoulders under the J other. The head had been cut clean off. The jury returned a verdict of suicide during temporary insanity. '