Felo-de-se / by J.G. Davey.

  • Davey, James George, 1813-1895.
Date:
[1870]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Felo-de-se / by J.G. Davey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    when I think of it, it drives me mad. Adue my beloved wife, may God give you strength to overcome this terrible trouble. I do love you but I cannot overcome this trouble. I am bound to leave you, my own dear and tender child when will you and your dear aunt be able to read this most horrible declaration. I am well aware it will be a dreadful shock but my dear child I am compelled now to do what I could wish I could in any way avoide but I can’t. ... 0 my two very dear creatures I can see you in your agonies about me but I can’t help it. But tell Edmund (and let him see this) that if he does not comply with what I have said I will trouble him if it is in my power, after Death. He had better take you booth away from them where you will be by yourselves. 0 my God ! what am I writing of! but I am deranged and I am not in my right mind. Friday, 3 p.m., the last I shall ever write. My watch will be here at Jenkins and my clothes and carpet bag. I have wandered about Bristol in a sad way but now 1 am afraid this day will be my last. I wish I had taken my dear child up with me then things would have taken another turn, but now I am alone and trouble has overcome me. . . . . My dear wife it will be a dreadful blow to you and my dear child. If I had the means I would go anywhere to get some work. I would be glad to work my fingers to the bone, but I cannot get away. I would go to Liverpool, but I have not the means. So I have fixed my mind on what I shall do to-night. I am afraid I shall be com- pelled to leave you. This letter was enclosed in an envelope addressed to his wife, and stamped ready for posting. In other letters and scraps of memoranda the deceased said he had not had two pennyworth of food for two days. Upon an envelope was the following:—My dear wife, I have no letter to-day—now I am done for—I am driven mad! God have mercy on you both.” In addition to the above I am in a position to state, on the best private authority, that W. E. was subject to severe pains in the head,” and that he often walked the whole night in his room with his hands clasped over his head in agony.” Furthermore, that “ for some days before his death” an old and intimate friend, with whom he was staying at the time of his sad end, noticed a great difference in him.” That the fate of the late Mr. W. F. added one to the pre- sent long list of erring judgments, for which the CoroneFs Court is responsible, there can be no kind of doubt. The last instance of felo-de-se to which I ask your at- tention is that involving two young women. Their sad fates are, it would appear, but too well calculated to put those on their guard who will persist in accepting every idle rumour, or personal slander as gospel, and are inclined, as the busy priest was on the occasion referred to, to enact the part of