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S…。 〃Why did you not get under the water and make an end of it； instead
of giving us all this trouble and bother？〃
Poverty； misery； and fear of the workhouse； are the principal causes of
suicide among the working classes。 〃I'll drown myself before I go into
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the workhouse；〃 said Ellen Hughes Hunt； aged fifty…two。 Last Wednesday
they held an inquest on her body at Shoreditch。 Her husband came from
the Islington Workhouse to testify。 He had been a cheesemonger； but
failure in business and poverty had driven him into the workhouse；
whither his wife had refused to accompany him。
She was last seen at one in the morning。 Three hours later her hat
and jacket were found on the towing path by the Regent's Canal； and later
her body was fished from the water。 VERDICT： SUICIDE DURING
TEMPORARY INSANITY。
Such verdicts are crimes against truth。 The Law is a lie； and through
it men lie most shamelessly。 For instance； a disgraced woman； forsaken
and spat upon by kith and kin； doses herself and her baby with laudanum。
The baby dies； but she pulls through after a few weeks in hospital； is
charged with murder； convicted； and sentenced to ten years' penal
servitude。 Recovering； the Law holds her responsible for her actions； yet；
had she died； the same Law would have rendered a verdict of temporary
insanity。
Now； considering the case of Ellen Hughes Hunt； it is as fair and
logical to say that her husband was suffering from temporary insanity
when he went into the Islington Workhouse； as it is to say that she was
suffering from temporary insanity when she went into the Regent's Canal。
As to which is the preferable sojourning place is a matter of opinion； of
intellectual judgment。 I； for one； from what I know of canals and
workhouses； should choose the canal； were I in a similar position。 And I
make bold to contend that I am no more insane than Ellen Hughes Hunt；
her husband； and the rest of the human herd。
Man no longer follows instinct with the old natural fidelity。 He has
developed into a reasoning creature； and can intellectually cling to life or
discard life just as life happens to promise great pleasure or pain。 I dare
to assert that Ellen Hughes Hunt； defrauded and bilked of all the joys of
life which fifty…two years' service in the world has earned； with nothing
but the horrors of the workhouse before her； was very rational and level…
headed when she elected to jump into the canal。 And I dare to assert；
further； that the jury had done a wiser thing to bring in a verdict charging
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society with temporary insanity for allowing Ellen Hughes Hunt to be
defrauded and bilked of all the joys of life which fifty…two years' service in
the world had earned。
Temporary insanity！ Oh； these cursed phrases； these lies of language；
under which people with meat in their bellies and whole shirts on their
backs shelter themselves； and evade the responsibility of their brothers and
sisters； empty of belly and without whole shirts on their backs。
From one issue of the Observer； an East End paper； I quote the
following commonplace events：…
A ship's fireman； named Johnny King； was charged with attempting
to commit suicide。 On Wednesday defendant went to Bow Police Station
and stated that he had swallowed a quantity of phosphor paste； as he was
hard up and unable to obtain work。 King was taken inside and an emetic
administered； when he vomited up a quantity of the poison。 Defendant
now said he was very sorry。 Although he had sixteen years' good
character； he was unable to obtain work of any kind。 Mr。 Dickinson had
defendant put back for the court missionary to see him。
Timothy Warner； thirty…two； was remanded for a similar offence。 He
jumped off Limehouse Pier； and when rescued； said； 〃I intended to do it。〃
A decent…looking young woman； named Ellen Gray； was remanded on
a charge of attempting to commit suicide。 About half…past eight on
Sunday morning Constable 834 K found defendant lying in a doorway in
Benworth Street； and she was in a very drowsy condition。 She was
holding an empty bottle in one hand； and stated that some two or three
hours previously she had swallowed a quantity of laudanum。 As she was
evidently very ill； the divisional surgeon was sent for； and having
administered some coffee； ordered that she was to be kept awake。 When
defendant was charged； she stated that the reason why she attempted to
take her life was she had neither home nor friends。
I do not say that all people who commit suicide are sane； no more
than I say that all people who do not commit suicide are sane。 Insecurity
of food and shelter； by the way； is a great cause of insanity among the
living。 Costermongers； hawkers； and pedlars； a class of workers who live
from hand to mouth more than those of any other class； form the highest
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percentage of those in the lunatic asylums。 Among the males each year；
26。9 per 10；000 go insane； and among the women； 36。9。 On the other
hand； of soldiers； who are at least sure of food and shelter； 13 per 10；000
go insane； and of farmers and graziers； only 5。1。 So a coster is twice as
likely to lose his reason as a soldier； and five times as likely as a farmer。
Misfortune and misery are very potent in turning people's heads； and
drive one person to the lunatic asylum； and another to the morgue or the
gallows。 When the thing happens； and the father and husband； for all of
his love for wife and children and his willingness to work； can get no work
to do； it is a simple matter for his reason to totter and the light within his
brain go out。 And it is especially simple when it is taken into
consideration that his body is ravaged by innutrition and disease； in
addition to his soul being torn by the sight of his suffering wife and little
ones。
〃He is a good…looking man； with a mass of black hair； dark； expressive
eyes； delicately chiselled nose and chin； and wavy； fair moustache。〃 This
is the reporter's description of Frank Cavilla as he stood in court； this
dreary month of September； 〃dressed in a much worn grey suit； and
wearing no collar。〃
Frank Cavilla lived and worked as a house decorator in London。 He
is described as a good workman； a steady fellow； and not given to drink；
while all his neighbours unite in testifying that he was a gentle and
affectionate husband and father。
His wife； Hannah Cavilla； was a big； handsome； light…hearted woman。
She saw to it that his children were sent neat and clean （the neighbours all
remarked the fact） to the Childeric Road Board School。 And so； with
such a man； so blessed； working steadily and living temperately； all went
well； and the goose hung high。
Then the thing happened。 He worked for a Mr。 Beck； builder； and
lived in one of his master's houses in Trundley Road。 Mr。 Beck was
thrown from his trap and killed。 The thing was an unruly horse； and； as I
say； it happened。 Cavilla had to seek fresh employment and find another
house。
This occurred eighteen months ago。 For eighteen months he fought
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the big fight。 He got rooms in a little house in Batavia Road； but could
not make both ends meet。 Steady work could not be obtained。 He
struggled manfully at casual employment of all sorts； his wife