AFTER GAY LIFE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20028, 8 February 1935, Page 14

AFTER GAY LIFE

YOUNG MAN’S SUICIDE A young man’s suicide in an expensive flat he occupied in Hanover Square, after he had returned from a night club, was described at a London inquest on John Beresford, aged twenty-six, a bachelor, says the “Daily Telegraph.” Richard Norris, an actor, of Denbigh Place, Pimlico, said he understood that Beresford, who was a friend of his, came from Ireland, but he knew nothing about his relatives. The Coroner (Mr Ingleby Oddie): Do you know if he was any relation to the Marquis of Waterford family?— I rather suspected. How was he living?—He did not talk very much about his personal affairs. He was very reserved. Mr Norris said Beresford had mentioned financial difficulties—he had various outstanding bills to tradesmen. He was under the impression that Beresford received money from his mother in Ireland. During the last fortnight he had been depressed. James Dunn, a zoologist, staying at a hotel in Russell Square, said he had known Beresford for about a month. Recently he met Beresford in a club called The Nest, Kingsley Street. They left the club in a taxi-cab about 2.45 a.m., Beresford dropping him at his address. Beresford had told him that he was not so well off as he used to be, and that he could not afford to go to Paris. He said that he only went abroad when he had a lot of money, so that he could “do himself well.” For some time past he had not been so gay as he formerly was. It was stated that Beresford, who was found dead in bed, owed £BS rent. Care of Parrot Dr John Taylor, pathologist, said death was due to some narcotic poisoning, such as would be caused by one of the barbituric class of drugs. The Coroner read a letter addressed to the manager of the flats, in which Beresford gave him his parrot, with elaborate instructions as to how it should be fed. He added: “Every article in this apartment owned by me at my death I leave wholly and entirely to you—my fishing equipment in Cornwall and sporting gun in Essex may become the property of those in charge of them. . . . “No doubt someone will come forward with an offer to bury me. Let this be done with simplicity in a quiet place.” Mr Oddie in recording a verdict of suicide while of unsound mind, said the man had been worried because he had come to the end of his resources. A member of the Marquis of Waterford’s family stated that Beresford was not in any way connected with the family. “We have never previously heard of the man,” it was stated. The manager of the block of flats said that Beresford received large remittances at intervals, but he did not I know where they came from. Beresford paid his accounts promptly after receiving the remittances and lived rather a gay life.