THE PRIDE OF A POOR WOMAN.

Colonist, Volume XXXIV, Issue 7032, 8 June 1891, Page 4

THE PRIDE OF A POOR WOMAN.

- ' ■ ; DEATH THE DELIVERER. Shakespeare, who knew everything, makes one of his characters exclaim, "0 world I how apt the poor are to be proud t" Such a reflection must arise to the minds of all those who have studied the pathetic particulars of a dreadful case of starvation in the. East End of-London, into which an inquiry was held a few days ago, by Dr.McDonald, M.P., coroner for north-east London. The subject of the inquiry was the emaciated body of A HAPLESS WOMAN, aged forty-five, wife of a foreman bricklayer, and mother by him of four children, all deserted along with the dead woman, Emma Barrett, by this cruel father and husband. The chief information on the matter was derived from George Barrett, an intelligentilpokinglad of about 13 years of age, w|ho stated that the deceased was his mother, and that his father had left her with four children to keep. For ahonh a month she had been ill and unable to leave her bed. fitness, who worked as a printer's boy, supported his mother.and the children, all younger than he; on his '■■ earnings, amounting to six shillings a week, out of^which he paid four shillings and sixpence a week rent. The coroner Observed: "Then you had only one shilling and sixpence for food ?" The witness replied; "A lady used to let us have some bread and a block of ooal." Thereupon asked the coroner: " But you couH have eaten more than you did, couldn't you?" and George Barrett responded: " Oh, yes, sir; but my mother would not let people know our business." While HIS MOTHER LAY, ILL, he and the other children attended to her. They occupied a single room, and all slept in one bed. On Friday morning, when he woke at six o'clock, he found his mother dead. Still pursuing his investigation into this strange and stern reticence of the lonely victim, Dr McDonald again questioned the lad. The report runs : —" The coroner: Didn't you tell anybody youi mother was very ill ? Witness : No, sir; my mother told me I was not tc do so. The coroner: Did your mothei eat any of the food you had in the house ? Witness : She used to eat a bit of bread when I was there. The coroner: Did she have any food while you were out ? Witness : No, sir, I don't think so. A juror: What did you have to eat on Sundays? Witness : Nothing, sir. The juror: What, not anything at all ? Witness : No, sir." THE LAST WOBD3 of Mrs Barreti to her son George were; "Don't get your father into trouble." Inquiry and parish assistance would, of course, do that; would lead to the discovery and punishment of the heartless husband and parent; and, as long as she could think about anything, this is evidently what the devoted wife principally kept at heart. The doctor found the patient iv an extremely emaciated state, and too weak to speak to him. There were not the common necessaries of life in the plaoe. The boSy, aftar death was found wasted to a mere skeleton, covered with a brown shrivelled tkin, and not a particle of fat within or upon it. The stomach contained no trace of food. "In his opinion, the woman had died from starvation." In effect thera is no kind of donbfc that Emma Barrett did die of starvation, abandoned by the man who was bousd to protect and sustain her and her little ones. Practical offers eft asaistatos have come from all directions for George Barrett, the LITTLE HERO OF FOURTEEN, who at Betbnal Green straggled in the absence of his father to support his mother and brother and sisters. Dr Berdoe, Hackney road,, who was called to the death-bed of the starving mother, and who has since taken so hindly an interest in the boy, received an offer from Lady Florence Dixie to adopt him, and no less than nine similar applications from different homes. Upon being told of Lady Dixie's desire, the lad Siid he did not think he should like it. He did not wish to be in a better position then hie brothers and sisters,; and would far rather stay to look after them.