No ‘Old Age Pension’ for Him.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3676, 28 February 1899, Page 3

No ‘Old Age Pension’ for Him.

A SAD STORY FROM “ HORRIBLE i LONDON.” On January 5; says a London paper Djr Wynn l Westcott held an inquiry a Bethnal Green respecting the death eCharlort Holliday,* aged 77, a, clerk, late residing at 21, Olga street, Old Ftvxl who was alleged to have died of star,-a tion. —Louisa Holliday, an old woman stated that on the previous Wedncsc'n■. deccasocf appeared very ill, and went to 'bed saying, “ Donlt wake mo in the morning. t shan't want any breakfast.” T)i • no-ct morning witness found him dead m bed.—The Coroner: I hear he was h great poverty'and in want of food?—Yersir; ho was.—Didn’t ho earn anytning? —Mo, sir, Hot a penny; ho couldn’t.— Then how did he keep you?—lt was vor little keep T had only for the neighbourgiving me food. But you must havel-nr’ sonic money. Oh. yes, ho has a little every week from Yarmouth.—How much was it?—'Only .a few stamps. Ho me’’ to give me two stamps every morung to buy a pennyworth ot bacon and ,r pennyworth of potatoes, and that was al 1 we ever had;—How much did it cost tkeen you every week?—-Not more that :■ shilling, sir. He didn’t have more than Js or os, and,wo had to pay 2s 6d a wool' for’ the rent of the room.—Dr E. Berdae of Victoria. Pjirk gate, said death was due to rmoumonia accelerated by destitution —GeoVge Wctherilt, of 21, Olga street, said he occupied the room under t l- n* occupied by.the deceased, whom he b;w’ known for two; aud.a half years. He v or a very intellectual man, but of a retiring

disposition. He was educated for the law, and practised as a barrister for a few years, but extravagant living ruined him. He afterwards became a commercial traveller, but again.fell, and from that time sank lower and lower, until he became nobody. For a long time past witness know that he had only about 4s a week, which was sent him by a friend.—The Coroner: But did neither he nor the woman earn anything?—No. not for a long time past. They didn’t have enough to keep a cat alive.—Why didn t they go into the workhouse?—He was like most Englishmen, he had a great distaste for it. He told me he would rather die of starvation than die in the workhouse And ho appeared to have kept his word, for he has died of starvation.—Yes, he has died from want of food and cold. I have seen him pick up crusts in the street and cat them.—The coroner said it was a very painful story to listen to.—The jury returned a verdict “That deceased died from pneumonia accelerated by want of food and destitution, and that such death was due to natural causes."