Starved Through a Strike.

Hastings Standard, Issue 149, 19 October 1896, Page 4

Starved Through a Strike.

At Whitechapel Infirmary, Mr W. E. Piaster held an inijuiry respecting the d.-ath of Patrick Kelly, aged I I years, a bricklayer's laborer, lately living in a common lodging-house at 17. "Dorset street, Spitallields, who died in the Imtirmary. Susan Kelly, the widow, stated that the deceased'had never enjoyed very good health, and of late had had to go through very rough times, and that had made his health worse. Deceased was thrown out of work' by the building strike, and as the strike pav was insudicient t<> keep them, the home was gradually parted with, until a month ago. when the landlord seized what little was left for the arrears of rent. Thus, after oyer twenty years of happy married life, they had to part 011 their doorstep, tlie" deceased to go to a common lodging house when he could get the money to pay for it, and witness to go to a women's shelter. Deceased could not get work, and witness, by earning a shilling by charring, kept the deceased as best she could. A -lurer: Did vou earn much? itness : No, but he had been a good husband to me, and if only he was alive now 1 would willingfy work for him. lie could not work"; he a;is dying. -Tames Kellv, a cousin of the deceased, came to him to borrow a shilling to get some food and pay for his bed. 'Witness lent it to him, and the deceased then said, " Sus will repay you, Jim ; I can't, I am dying f i-t. shall never work again, I know." Deceased's workused to be catching the bricks, and as the men caught them they always struck their chests, and this had weakened the deceased's'lungs. Dr. George t'owvy deposed that the deceased died from exhaustion and pneumonia. The jury returned a verdict in accordance witii the medical evidence.